Roof Bolters, Mining: Career Profile
Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.
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The Daily Work of Roof Bolters, Mining Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of roof bolters, mining span:
- Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.
- Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported.
- Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks.
- Perform safety checks on equipment before operating.
- Perform tests to determine if methane gas is present.
- Force bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines.
- Perform ventilation tasks, such as hanging ventilation curtains and tubes.
- Dust rocks after bolting.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective roof bolters, mining combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Bolt Machine Operator
- Bolt Man
- Bolter
- Bolting Inspector
- Bolting Machine Operator
- Miner
- Place Change Roof Bolter
- Roof Bolter
How Many Roof Bolters, Mining Are There?
There are roughly 708,457 roof bolters, mining working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +14.3% over the projection horizon.
Roof Bolters, Mining Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $76,611 |
| Hourly median | $36.83 |
| 10th percentile | $49,692 |
| 25th percentile | $63,151 |
| 75th percentile | $90,070 |
| 90th percentile | $103,529 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Roof Bolters, Mining Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $113,750 |
| West Virginia | $78,970 |
| Virginia | $75,700 |
| Kentucky | $70,620 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for roof bolters, mining differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $113,750 | 6.9% | 25.31 |
| Southeast | $77,654 | 93.1% | 79.56 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV-OH | WV | $81,810 | 150 |
| Beckley, WV | WV | $76,040 | 190 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of roof bolters, mining are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 2,170 | $77,570 |
Roof Bolters, Mining work in the following industries:
Software Roof Bolters, Mining Use
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Caterpillar Cat MineStar System
- Industrial control software: Caterpillar Command
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of roof bolters, 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
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
Education and Training
Most roof bolters, mining positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Pile Driver Operators (Supplemental)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers (Primary-Long)
- Sheet Metal Workers (Supplemental)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (Primary-Short)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (Primary-Long)
About the Data
This profile draws on 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: 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining).
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