Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Career, Salary and Skills
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $106,220 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 6,080. Wage data is published for 51 locations.
Occupation description
Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.
O*NET code
17-2151.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$106,220
Hourly median
$51.07
Employment
6,080
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.12 | 4.38 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.50 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Mathematics | 3.75 | 4.62 |
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 4.50 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.75 | 4.00 |
Typical tasks
- Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
- Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
- Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
- Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
- Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
- Supervise, train, and evaluate technicians, technologists, survey personnel, engineers, scientists or other mine personnel.
- Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
- Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Bentley MicroStation
- Business software applications
- Carlson SurvCADD
- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
- CyberArk
- Gemcom PCBC
- Gemcom Surpac
- Gemcom Whittle
- GEO-SLOPE GeoStudio
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- GijimaAst Mining Solutions International Mine2-4D
- Hellman & Schofield MP3
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in AZMedian $102,130 · Employment 690
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in COMedian $96,820 · Employment 670
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in Denver, COMedian $93,100 · Employment 520
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in CAMedian $158,130 · Employment 520
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in NVMedian $107,500 · Employment 470
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in WVMedian $97,960 · Employment 440
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in AKMedian $124,630 · Employment 300
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in Phoenix, AZMedian $114,290 · Employment 250
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in KYMedian $103,300 · Employment 230
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in UTMedian $125,520 · Employment 230
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in WYMedian $119,010 · Employment 210
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $144,230 · Employment 180
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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.