How much does a mining engineer make?
a year · about $51 an hour
A typical mining engineer in the United States makes $106,220 a year, about $51 an hour, about 2.1× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They plan mine layouts and write reports, then visit a mine in a hard hat to check equipment, walls, and air for dangers. They review progress with crews and adjust plans to keep extraction safe and efficient.
Did you know? Mining engineers in the U.S. may use drones to survey mines and inspect sites, helping make the work safer and more efficient.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $67,490 and $169,990How do you become one?
Take math and science in U.S. high school, then earn a bachelor's in mining or geological engineering. Entry-level work needs no license; later, engineers gain experience and pass the FE and PE exams for a state PE license.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like building and doing and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience and a state PE license, which lets engineers take on more responsibility. Government, mining, and engineering employers pay differently, and location, mineral or safety specialties, and longer weeks at remote mine sites can also affect earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($158,130), lowest in North Carolina ($70,310).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $67,490 | $106,220 | $169,990 | about 6,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $158,130 | about 520 |
| Oklahoma | $131,660 | about 90 |
| Utah | $125,520 | about 230 |
| Alaska | $124,630 | about 300 |
| Idaho | $123,680 | about 110 |
Official definition: Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs. Excludes “Petroleum Engineers” (17-2171).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/print/mining-and-geological-enginee
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/17-2151.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/NCEES-Licensure-Brochure_2025.pdf
- www.osmre.gov/news/stories/SMCRA-from-Above-Advanced-Surveying-with-UAS-LiDAR
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY