Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Beckley, WV
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Beckley, WV metro area earn a median of $60,610 a year ($29.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,190 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 1% lower than the West Virginia statewide median of $61,330. There are 2.0 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 9.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $61,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Beckley, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,450 | $26.66 |
| 25th percentile | $60,010 | $28.85 |
| Median | $60,610 | $29.14 |
| 75th percentile | $62,880 | $30.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,190 | $30.86 |
| Average (mean) | $61,580 | $29.61 |
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 | $5,050.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,525.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,331.15 |
| Weekly | $1,165.58 |
| Hourly | $29.14 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,040 | 540 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $53,700 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $48,190 | 50 |
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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Beckley, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,130 | $35.64 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $70,120 | $33.71 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,700 | $28.70 |
| Electrician | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,250 | $46.75 |
| Construction Laborer | $36,310 | $17.46 |
| Carpenter | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $50,140 | $24.10 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $49,520 | $23.81 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $44,320 | $21.31 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Beckley, WV
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 Beckley, WV?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Beckley, WV metro area is $60,610 a year, or $29.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Beckley, WV?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Beckley, WV metro area earn at least $64,190 a year. The top 25% earn $62,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Beckley, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,450 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $60,010 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Beckley, WV?
About 90 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Beckley, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.