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Continuous Mining Machine Operator

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What is a Continuous Mining Machine Operator?

Career Description Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors or into shuttle cars in a continuous operation.

List of Continuous Mining Machine Operator Job Duties

  • Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
  • Guide and assist crews laying track and resetting supports and blocking.
  • Move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing.
  • Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.
  • Drive machines into position at working faces.
  • Apply new technologies developed to minimize the environmental impact of coal mining.

What a Continuous Mining Machine Operator Should Know

Below is a list of the skills most Continuous Mining Machine Operators say are important on the job.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Types of Continuous Mining Machine Operator Jobs

  • Continuous Mining Machine Contract Miner
  • Front End Wheel Loader Operator
  • Heavy Equipment Operator
  • Quarry Plant Crusher Operator
  • Logging Shovel Operator

Continuous Mining Machine Operator Job Outlook

There were about 12,300 jobs for Continuous Mining Machine Operator in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Continuous Mining Machine Operator. There will be an estimated 1,400 positions for Continuous Mining Machine Operator per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Continuous Mining Machine Operator are Texas, Missouri, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Georgia, Kentucky, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Continuous Mining Machine Operators Make A Lot Of Money?

The average yearly salary of a Continuous Mining Machine Operator ranges between $36,310 and $74,800.

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Continuous Mining Machine Operators who work in Wyoming, Alaska, or Montana, make the highest salaries.

How much do Continuous Mining Machine Operators make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alaska $69,080
Arizona $47,920
Arkansas $39,670
California $47,490
Colorado $60,910
Florida $49,980
Georgia $45,830
Idaho $60,040
Illinois $59,040
Indiana $54,610
Iowa $41,030
Kentucky $50,180
Maryland $37,870
Michigan $42,850
Missouri $44,670
Montana $70,310
Nevada $62,290
New Mexico $61,400
New York $45,740
North Carolina $47,330
Oklahoma $34,720
Pennsylvania $45,500
South Carolina $50,090
South Dakota $41,110
Texas $36,900
Virginia $47,030
Washington $46,810
West Virginia $54,660
Wisconsin $45,450
Wyoming $78,210

What Tools & Technology do Continuous Mining Machine Operators Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Continuous Mining Machine Operators may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Word processing software
  • Minitab

How to Become a Continuous Mining Machine Operator

What education or degrees do I need to become a Continuous Mining Machine Operator?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Continuous Mining Machine Operator?

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Where do Continuous Mining Machine Operators Work?

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Below are examples of industries where Continuous Mining Machine Operators work:

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Those thinking about becoming a Continuous Mining Machine Operator might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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