Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary
Construction and Extraction Occupations · 34K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$57,430
Median hourly
$28
Average annual
$59,930
Typical range
$41,600–$82,400
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining is $57,430 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $28 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials..
Most earn between $41,600 and $82,400 a year. There are roughly 34K people employed as excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining.
- Hourly
- $27.61
- Daily
- $221
- Weekly
- $1,104
- Bi-weekly
- $2,209
- Monthly
- $4,786
- Annual
- $57,430
$57,430 a year is around the 50th percentile for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings. The median is $57,430.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1North Dakota$90,380
- 2Illinois$80,600
- 3New Jersey$80,310
- 4Wyoming$78,230
- 5New Mexico$76,350
- 6Massachusetts$76,070
- 7Alaska$74,680
- 8California$74,500
- 9Montana$65,850
- 10Connecticut$65,710
- 11Washington$64,270
- 12Nevada$63,810
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$142,970
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$122,410
- 3New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$94,960
- 4Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$87,060
- 5Farmington, NM$85,880
- 6San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$82,560
- 7Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$81,180
- 8Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$76,110
- 9College Station-Bryan, TX$75,440
- 10New Haven, CT$75,110
- 11Fresno, CA$74,390
- 12Worcester, MA$73,780
Related job titles
Employers advertise Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining roles under these titles.
- Aerial Tram Operator
- Air Shovel Operator
- Back Digger Operator
- Back Filler Operator
- Back Hoe Machine Operator
- Clam Shovel Operator
- Coal Equipment Operator
- Diesel Scoop Operator
- Dragline Operator
- Earth Moving Equipment Operator
- Earth Moving Machine Operator
- Earth Moving Technician
- Electric Scoop Operator
- Electric Shovel Operator
- End Loader Operator
- Excavation Operator
Related occupations
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
- Construction Laborers$47,120
- Hoist and Winch Operators$56,450
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators$61,810
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510
- Crane and Tower Operators$68,080
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$74,500
What a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining does
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
- Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
- Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.
- Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- Create or maintain inclines or ramps.
- Handle slides, mud, or pit cleanings or maintenance.
- Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make?
- The median annual wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining is $57,430 ($28 per hour). Pay ranges from about $41,600 at the 10th percentile to $82,400 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $59,930, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings the most?
- North Dakota has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $90,380.
- Is Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 34K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining do?
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.; Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.; Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application..