Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Colorado
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Colorado earn a median of $61,020 a year ($29.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,930 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $57,430. Colorado ranks 17th of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay. There are 0.28 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| 25th percentile | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Median | $61,020 | $29.34 |
| 75th percentile | $79,390 | $38.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,930 | $45.64 |
| Average (mean) | $67,370 | $32.39 |
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 | $5,085 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,542.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,346.92 |
| Weekly | $1,173.46 |
| Hourly | $29.34 |
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 cities in Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $65,370 | 120 |
| Pueblo, CO | $63,600 | 40 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $61,410 | 50 |
| Greeley, CO | $60,070 | 120 |
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.
Related jobs in Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $60,290 | $28.98 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $81,110 | $38.99 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $64,730 | $31.12 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $64,820 | $31.16 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $37,450 | $18.00 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $79,830 | $38.38 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $46,590 | $22.40 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $79,150 | $38.05 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $81,270 | $39.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $81,230 | $39.05 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,900 | $23.03 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Colorado is $61,020 a year, or $29.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Colorado?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Colorado earn at least $94,930 a year. The top 25% earn $79,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,400 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $56,510 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Colorado?
About 820 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.