Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary in the U.S.
Continuous Mining Machine Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $61,810 a year ($29.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,210 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $65,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for continuous mining machine operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,770 | $22.49 |
| 25th percentile | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| Median | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| 75th percentile | $77,570 | $37.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,210 | $41.45 |
| Average (mean) | $65,050 | $31.27 |
Half of continuous mining machine operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,150.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,575.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,377.31 |
| Weekly | $1,188.65 |
| Hourly | $29.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $90,820 | 420 |
| Nevada | $85,590 | 1,110 |
| Wyoming | $85,260 | 330 |
| Colorado | $81,110 | 290 |
| West Virginia | $77,570 | 720 |
| Illinois | $74,830 | 230 |
| Indiana | $71,570 | 170 |
| Virginia | $63,480 | 230 |
| California | $62,790 | 940 |
| Florida | $62,580 | 230 |
| Idaho | $60,990 | 70 |
| Arizona | $60,880 | 2,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,780 | 510 |
| Utah | $59,420 | 890 |
| Alabama | $59,360 | 340 |
| North Carolina | $59,030 | 230 |
| Ohio | $58,030 | 260 |
| Michigan | $57,760 | 180 |
| Georgia | $57,160 | 140 |
| Nebraska | $51,760 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $50,020 | 390 |
| Texas | $48,950 | 390 |
| New Mexico | $48,900 | 470 |
| Arkansas | $47,890 | 80 |
| Missouri | $47,280 | 920 |
| Oklahoma | $46,980 | 310 |
| New York | $46,450 | 180 |
Best-paying metro areas for continuous mining machine operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | $86,230 | 50 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $66,300 | 120 |
| Charleston, WV | $65,280 | 70 |
| Beckley, WV | $64,270 | 120 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $63,250 | 710 |
| Tucson, AZ | $60,880 | 720 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $60,780 | 140 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $58,430 | n/a |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $57,900 | 380 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $54,690 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,120 | 120 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $47,950 | 100 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $39,540 | 30 |
Metro areas with the most continuous mining machine operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 720 | $60,880 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 710 | $63,250 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 380 | $57,900 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 140 | $60,780 |
| Beckley, WV | 120 | $64,270 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 120 | $48,120 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 120 | $66,300 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 100 | $47,950 |
| Charleston, WV | 70 | $65,280 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 60 | $54,690 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 50 | $86,230 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 30 | $39,540 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $46,960 | $22.58 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,160 | $27.96 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $57,010 | $27.41 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,740 | $23.44 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $70,130 | $33.72 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a continuous mining machine operator make in the U.S.?
The median salary for continuous mining machine operators in the U.S. is $61,810 a year, or $29.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid continuous mining machine operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of continuous mining machine operators in the U.S. earn at least $86,210 a year. The top 25% earn $77,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for continuous mining machine operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,770 a year, and a quarter of continuous mining machine operators earn $51,610 or less.
How many continuous mining machine operators work in the U.S.?
About 14,000 continuous mining machine operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.