Roof Bolters, Mining Career, Salary and Skills
Roof Bolters, Mining have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $78,540 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 2,160. Wage data is published for 9 locations.
Occupation description
Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.
O*NET code
47-5043.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$78,540
Hourly median
$37.76
Employment
2,160
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$63,750
10th
$71,390
25th
$78,540
Median
$81,860
75th
$92,830
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.62 | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.50 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 2.38 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.25 |
Typical tasks
- Dust rocks after bolting.
- 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.
Technology
- Caterpillar Cat MineStar System
- Caterpillar Command
Roof Bolters, Mining salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Roof Bolters, Mining Salary in WVMedian $79,400 · Employment 970
- Roof Bolters, Mining Salary in ILMedian $81,860 · Employment 200
- Roof Bolters, Mining Salary in Beckley, WVMedian $77,920 · Employment 190
- Roof Bolters, Mining Salary in KYMedian $72,510 · Employment 120
- Roof Bolters, Mining Salary in Wheeling, WVMedian $66,610 · Employment 120
- Roof Bolters, Mining Salary in VAMedian $78,260 · Employment 110
- Roof Bolters, Mining Salary in WYMedian $116,570 · Employment 100
- Roof Bolters, Mining Salary in ALMedian $67,020 · Employment 80
- Roof Bolters, Mining Salary in COMedian $81,270 · Employment 40
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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.