Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn a median of $49,520 a year ($23.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,940 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 2% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $50,290. There are 0.15 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $50,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| 25th percentile | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Median | $49,520 | $23.81 |
| 75th percentile | $56,920 | $27.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,940 | $28.82 |
| Average (mean) | $50,390 | $24.23 |
Half of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining 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 | $4,126.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,063.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,904.62 |
| Weekly | $952.31 |
| Hourly | $23.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,860 | 200 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $56,570 | 30 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $56,460 | 630 |
| Columbia, SC | $54,370 | 80 |
| Savannah, GA | $49,400 | 30 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $48,380 | 80 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $44,720 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $90,380 |
| Illinois | $80,600 |
| New Jersey | $80,310 |
| Wyoming | $78,230 |
| New Mexico | $76,350 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 |
| Alaska | $74,680 |
| California | $74,500 |
| Montana | $65,850 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 |
See Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay in every state or the Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $50,680 | $24.36 |
| Construction Laborer | $38,730 | $18.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $74,360 | $35.75 |
| Electrician | $59,660 | $28.69 |
| Carpenter | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $48,190 | $23.17 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $54,690 | $26.29 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $46,350 | $22.29 |
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $41,090 | $19.75 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $41,010 | $19.72 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5022. 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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area is $49,520 a year, or $23.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn at least $59,940 a year. The top 25% earn $56,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,780 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $46,240 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
About 30 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.