Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary in Virginia
Continuous Mining Machine Operators in Virginia earn a median of $63,480 a year ($30.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,270 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $61,810. Virginia ranks 8th of 27 states for continuous mining machine operators pay. There are 0.06 continuous mining machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $66,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for continuous mining machine operators in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,860 | $23.49 |
| 25th percentile | $52,280 | $25.13 |
| Median | $63,480 | $30.52 |
| 75th percentile | $74,630 | $35.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,270 | $38.11 |
| Average (mean) | $66,390 | $31.92 |
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 | $5,290 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,645 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,441.54 |
| Weekly | $1,220.77 |
| Hourly | $30.52 |
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
| 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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $59,480 | $28.60 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $55,470 | $26.67 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $76,900 | $36.97 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,260 | $37.62 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $61,410 | $29.52 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $50,350 | $24.21 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $63,920 | $30.73 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| Construction Laborer | $43,560 | $20.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $78,640 | $37.81 |
| Electrician | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Carpenter | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $60,470 | $29.07 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $57,160 | $27.48 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for continuous mining machine operators in Virginia is $63,480 a year, or $30.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid continuous mining machine operators make in Virginia?
The top 10% of continuous mining machine operators in Virginia earn at least $79,270 a year. The top 25% earn $74,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for continuous mining machine operators in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,860 a year, and a quarter of continuous mining machine operators earn $52,280 or less.
How many continuous mining machine operators work in Virginia?
About 230 continuous mining machine operators are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.