Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary in California
Continuous Mining Machine Operators in California earn a median of $62,790 a year ($30.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 940 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,250 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $61,810. California ranks 9th of 27 states for continuous mining machine operators pay. There are 0.05 continuous mining machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $69,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for continuous mining machine operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| 25th percentile | $62,240 | $29.93 |
| Median | $62,790 | $30.19 |
| 75th percentile | $78,830 | $37.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,250 | $39.55 |
| Average (mean) | $69,250 | $33.29 |
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 | $5,232.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,616.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,415 |
| Weekly | $1,207.50 |
| Hourly | $30.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for continuous mining machine operators
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $66,910 | $32.17 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $51,720 | $24.87 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $65,520 | $31.50 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $61,620 | $29.63 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $80,370 | $38.64 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $55,480 | $26.67 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Carpenter | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,270 | $28.98 |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,680 | $46.96 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for continuous mining machine operators in California is $62,790 a year, or $30.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid continuous mining machine operators make in California?
The top 10% of continuous mining machine operators in California earn at least $82,250 a year. The top 25% earn $78,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for continuous mining machine operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,340 a year, and a quarter of continuous mining machine operators earn $62,240 or less.
How many continuous mining machine operators work in California?
About 940 continuous mining machine operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.