All About Mining Roof Bolters
Job Description & Duties Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.
Life As a Mining Roof Bolter
- Tighten ends of anchored truss bolts, using turnbuckles.
- Perform tests to determine if methane gas is present.
- Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks.
- Dust rocks after bolting.
- Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported.
- Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.
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What Every Mining Roof Bolter Should Know
When polled, Mining Roof Bolters say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Types of Mining Roof Bolter
- Roof Bolting Coal Miner
- Bolting Machine Operator
- Place Change Roof Bolter
- Underground Mining Section Foreman
- Underground Roof Bolter
Are There Job Opportunities for Mining Roof Bolters?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 3,700 jobs in the United States for Mining Roof Bolter. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Mining Roof Bolter. There will be an estimated 400 positions for Mining Roof Bolter per year.

The states with the most job growth for Mining Roof Bolter are Idaho, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Utah, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Mining Roof Bolter Salary
The typical yearly salary for Mining Roof Bolters is somewhere between $43,330 and $77,690.

Mining Roof Bolters who work in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Mining Roof Bolters make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Illinois | $59,350 |
Indiana | $52,540 |
Kentucky | $47,420 |
Pennsylvania | $68,570 |
West Virginia | $60,880 |
Wyoming | $92,720 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Mining Roof Bolters
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Mining Roof Bolters may use on a daily basis:
- Data entry software
How to Become a Mining Roof Bolter
Are there Mining Roof Bolters education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Mining Roof Bolter?

Where do Mining Roof Bolters Work?

Below are examples of industries where Mining Roof Bolters work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Mining Roof Bolter might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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