How much does a mine machine operator make?
a year · about $34 an hour
A typical mine machine operator in the United States makes $70,130 a year, about $34 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They drive a loader or other underground machine through a narrow tunnel, moving coal, ore, or rock to a conveyor or mine car. They clear obstacles from the route and follow hand signals from coworkers.
Did you know? U.S. researchers tested a remote-controlled coal cutter from 200 feet away on the surface, for work in seams only 36 inches high.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $49,020 and $85,010How do you become one?
In the U.S., no formal school credential is usually required, and operators learn on the job over several months. At 18 or older, complete MSHA's new-miner safety training and supervised practice on each machine before operating it alone.
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, in-demand machine skills, and useful credentials can boost pay. Pay also differs by location, employer or mining industry, and how complex or responsible the machine work is.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Alaska ($106,840), lowest in Pennsylvania ($54,480).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $49,020 | $70,130 | $85,010 | about 3,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $106,840 | about 70 |
| Montana | $84,410 | — |
| Minnesota | $83,120 | about 930 |
| Illinois | $72,800 | about 70 |
| Utah | $67,200 | about 180 |
Official definition: All underground mining machine operators not listed separately.
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/occupation-finder.htm?start=151
- www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-48/subpart-A
- www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-V/subchapter-A/part-570/subpart
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-5044.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/206021/cdc_206021_DS1.pdf
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY