Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining: Career Overview
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
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What Tasks Do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Do?
The core tasks performed by excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining include:
- 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.
- Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
- Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
- Create or maintain inclines or ramps.
What Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Need to Know
Top excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Aerial Tram Operator
- Air Shovel Operator
- Back Digger Operator
- Back Filler Operator
- Back Hoe Machine Operator
- Back Hoe Operator
- Backhoe Operator
- Clam Shovel Operator
Employment and Demand
There are about 698,748 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +1.7% over the projection horizon.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $42,921 |
| Hourly median | $20.64 |
| 10th percentile | $29,321 |
| 25th percentile | $36,121 |
| 75th percentile | $49,721 |
| 90th percentile | $56,520 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $105,490 |
| Minnesota | $79,060 |
| Alaska | $78,690 |
| North Dakota | $76,690 |
| Wyoming | $76,160 |
| Massachusetts | $74,300 |
| California | $73,580 |
| Indiana | $68,200 |
| Maryland | $65,060 |
| Montana | $64,740 |
| West Virginia | $62,930 |
| Washington | $62,530 |
| District of Columbia | $62,400 |
| Illinois | $62,320 |
| Colorado | $61,660 |
| New Hampshire | $60,730 |
| Oregon | $60,230 |
| Connecticut | $60,020 |
| Vermont | $59,200 |
| Wisconsin | $57,830 |
| New Mexico | $57,160 |
| Idaho | $57,140 |
| Arizona | $57,110 |
| Nevada | $56,510 |
| New York | $56,460 |
| Ohio | $56,020 |
| Missouri | $55,500 |
| Maine | $55,340 |
| Delaware | $55,300 |
| Michigan | $53,770 |
| Virginia | $53,770 |
| Utah | $52,240 |
| Iowa | $52,170 |
| South Dakota | $51,920 |
| North Carolina | $50,840 |
| Nebraska | $50,020 |
| Kansas | $49,670 |
| Georgia | $48,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,730 |
| Texas | $47,840 |
| Florida | $47,220 |
| Tennessee | $47,110 |
| Kentucky | $46,480 |
| Alabama | $46,130 |
| South Carolina | $46,130 |
| Arkansas | $45,270 |
| Oklahoma | $44,990 |
| Louisiana | $43,670 |
| Mississippi | $41,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,910 |
Where Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Earn the Most
Pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $65,408 | 7.9% | 0.96 |
| Middle Atlantic | $63,801 | 13.8% | 0.99 |
| New England | $61,434 | 3.0% | 1.50 |
| Rocky Mountains | $61,118 | 6.8% | 2.31 |
| Plains States | $60,708 | 8.6% | 1.52 |
| Great Lakes | $59,989 | 12.9% | 0.94 |
| Southeast | $49,471 | 26.8% | 1.48 |
| Southwest | $48,141 | 19.8% | 1.86 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $139,310 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $121,790 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $95,260 | 30 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $94,470 | 1,140 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | WV | $84,640 | 60 |
| Farmington, NM | NM | $83,610 | 60 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $79,830 | 390 |
| Vineland, NJ | NJ | $78,260 | 30 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 20,530 | $53,520 |
| Construction | 8,470 | $54,570 |
| Manufacturing | 1,280 | $52,550 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,180 | $45,390 |
| Wholesale Trade | 300 | $52,840 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 290 | $49,560 |
| Utilities | 280 | $133,570 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 200 | $55,150 |
Below are examples of industries where excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
How to Become Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Most excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Agricultural Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Short)
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Pile Driver Operators (Primary-Long)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Short)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining typically earn programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-5022.00 (Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining).
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