Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary in Illinois
Continuous Mining Machine Operators in Illinois earn a median of $74,830 a year ($35.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,280 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $61,810. Illinois ranks 6th of 27 states for continuous mining machine operators pay. There are 0.04 continuous mining machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.42). The average (mean) salary is $65,250, close to the median.
Pay range for continuous mining machine operators in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| 25th percentile | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| Median | $74,830 | $35.98 |
| 75th percentile | $78,500 | $37.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,280 | $38.12 |
| Average (mean) | $65,250 | $31.37 |
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 | $6,235.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,117.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,878.08 |
| Weekly | $1,439.04 |
| Hourly | $35.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,120 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for continuous mining machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $90,820 |
| Nevada | $85,590 |
| Wyoming | $85,260 |
| Colorado | $81,110 |
| West Virginia | $77,570 |
| Illinois | $74,830 |
| Indiana | $71,570 |
| Virginia | $63,480 |
| California | $62,790 |
| Florida | $62,580 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $80,600 | $38.75 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $79,080 | $38.02 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $41,680 | $20.04 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $81,860 | $39.36 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $60,520 | $29.10 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $75,890 | $36.48 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $72,800 | $35.00 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $45,900 | $22.07 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Electrician | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Carpenter | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $105,750 | $50.84 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $99,950 | $48.05 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for continuous mining machine operators in Illinois is $74,830 a year, or $35.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid continuous mining machine operators make in Illinois?
The top 10% of continuous mining machine operators in Illinois earn at least $79,280 a year. The top 25% earn $78,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for continuous mining machine operators in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,490 a year, and a quarter of continuous mining machine operators earn $47,490 or less.
How many continuous mining machine operators work in Illinois?
About 230 continuous mining machine operators are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.