Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Career, Salary and Skills
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $74,500 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 5,930. Wage data is published for 25 locations.
Occupation description
Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.
O*NET code
47-5044.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$74,500
Hourly median
$35.82
Employment
5,930
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Monitoring | 2.88 | 2.62 |
Typical tasks
- Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.
- Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.
- Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.
- Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines.
- Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel.
- Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces.
- Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.
Technology
- Automated systems software
- Inventory management systems
- Maintenance management software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Mine maintenance software
- Work time accounting software
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in WVMedian $74,950 · Employment 1,250
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in NVMedian $82,920 · Employment 880
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in ALMedian $60,020 · Employment 510
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in Beckley, WVMedian $74,130 · Employment 200
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in VAMedian $76,900 · Employment 190
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in NYMedian $60,890 · Employment 140
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in Wheeling, WVMedian $81,100 · Employment 140
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in OHMedian $71,380 · Employment 130
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in Tuscaloosa, ALMedian $57,730 · Employment 120
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in LAMedian $48,670 · Employment 110
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in AZMedian $72,430 · Employment 100
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in GAMedian $50,380 · Employment 100
Related careers
- Machine Feeders and OffbearersNational median $41,220
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversNational median $58,640
- Logging Equipment OperatorsNational median $49,740
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsNational median $70,070
- Helpers--Extraction WorkersNational median $47,730
- Rail Car RepairersNational median $67,530
- RiggersNational median $62,640
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesNational median $65,510
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.