Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Career, Salary and Skills
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $57,430 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 34,480. Wage data is published for 168 locations.
Occupation description
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
O*NET code
47-5022.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$57,430
Hourly median
$27.61
Employment
34,480
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$41,600
10th
$47,890
25th
$57,430
Median
$65,730
75th
$82,400
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 4.12 | 3.62 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
- Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
- Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.
- Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
- Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
- Create or maintain inclines or ramps.
Technology
- Email software
- Google Gmail
- Machine control systems
- Machine monitoring software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in TXMedian $49,000 · Employment 5,030
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in INMedian $61,910 · Employment 1,530
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in PAMedian $52,350 · Employment 1,520
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in NYMedian $58,120 · Employment 1,490
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in FLMedian $51,990 · Employment 1,480
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in OKMedian $47,100 · Employment 1,440
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in ILMedian $80,600 · Employment 1,310
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in GAMedian $50,290 · Employment 1,180
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in VAMedian $59,480 · Employment 1,150
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in OHMedian $58,240 · Employment 1,120
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $51,780 · Employment 990
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in WIMedian $58,280 · Employment 990
Related careers
- Agricultural Equipment OperatorsNational median $41,730
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNational median $67,890
- Dredge OperatorsNational median $49,640
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsNational median $70,070
- MillwrightsNational median $65,700
- Industrial Machinery MechanicsNational median $64,520
- Maintenance Workers, MachineryNational median $60,850
- RiggersNational median $62,640
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.