Life As an Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator
Position Description Operate underground loading machine to load coal, ore, or rock into shuttle or mine car or onto conveyors. Loading equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.
What Do Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Observe and record car numbers, carriers, customers, tonnages, and grades and conditions of material.
- Replace hydraulic hoses, headlight bulbs, and gathering-arm teeth.
- Estimate and record amounts of material in bins.
- Start conveyor booms and gathering-arm motors, and operate winches to position cars under boom conveyors for loading.
- Stop gathering arms when cars are full.
- Signal workers to move loaded cars.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator?
Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Other Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator Job Titles
- Joy Loader
- Miner Operator
- Under Ground Miner
- Mucker Operator
- Joy Loading Machine Operator
Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 2,600 jobs for Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator. The BLS estimates 300 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator are Idaho, Missouri, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Illinois, Alabama, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators Salary
The typical yearly salary for Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators is somewhere between $32,920 and $69,890.

Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators who work in Pennsylvania, Colorado, or West Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $44,080 |
Colorado | $59,440 |
Iowa | $38,480 |
Kentucky | $40,250 |
Ohio | $41,540 |
Pennsylvania | $60,020 |
Texas | $39,550 |
Vermont | $38,830 |
West Virginia | $56,620 |
What Tools & Technology do Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Windows
- Maintenance management software
How do I Become an Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator?
Individuals working as an Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become an Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator?

Who Employs Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators?

The table below shows the approximate number of Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those who work as an Underground Mining Loading Machine Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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