Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary in West Virginia
Continuous Mining Machine Operators in West Virginia earn a median of $77,570 a year ($37.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 720 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,690 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $61,810. West Virginia ranks 5th of 27 states for continuous mining machine operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.0 continuous mining machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 11.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $73,030, close to the median.
Pay range for continuous mining machine operators in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,840 | $28.77 |
| 25th percentile | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| Median | $77,570 | $37.29 |
| 75th percentile | $81,720 | $39.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,690 | $43.60 |
| Average (mean) | $73,030 | $35.11 |
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 | $6,464.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,232.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,983.46 |
| Weekly | $1,491.73 |
| Hourly | $37.29 |
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 West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $66,300 | 120 |
| Charleston, WV | $65,280 | 70 |
| Beckley, WV | $64,270 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for continuous mining machine operators
Related jobs in West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,950 | $36.04 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $79,400 | $38.17 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $61,330 | $29.49 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $56,250 | $27.04 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $63,550 | $30.55 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $77,180 | $37.11 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $55,540 | $26.70 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $65,610 | $31.54 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $51,300 | $24.66 |
| Construction Laborer | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $80,060 | $38.49 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in West 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 West Virginia?
The median salary for continuous mining machine operators in West Virginia is $77,570 a year, or $37.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid continuous mining machine operators make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of continuous mining machine operators in West Virginia earn at least $90,690 a year. The top 25% earn $81,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for continuous mining machine operators in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,840 a year, and a quarter of continuous mining machine operators earn $64,270 or less.
How many continuous mining machine operators work in West Virginia?
About 720 continuous mining machine operators are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.