Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $49,920 a year ($24.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 890 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,040 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 2% higher than the Texas statewide median of $49,000. There are 0.27 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| 25th percentile | $45,230 | $21.74 |
| Median | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| 75th percentile | $61,390 | $29.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,040 | $31.75 |
| Average (mean) | $52,790 | $25.38 |
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 | $4,160 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,080 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,920 |
| Weekly | $960 |
| Hourly | $24.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,920 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $75,440 | 60 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,780 | 990 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $51,420 | 520 |
| Odessa, TX | $50,230 | 40 |
| Midland, TX | $49,070 | 150 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $47,970 | 540 |
| El Paso, TX | $46,110 | 90 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $43,980 | 50 |
| Lubbock, TX | $41,110 | 60 |
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 Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $79,450 | $38.20 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $62,910 | $30.25 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $57,970 | $27.87 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $64,740 | $31.12 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $55,830 | $26.84 |
| Construction Laborer | $41,350 | $19.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $76,020 | $36.55 |
| Electrician | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $51,040 | $24.54 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,300 | $29.47 |
| Carpenter | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $46,600 | $22.40 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $49,920 a year, or $24.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $66,040 a year. The top 25% earn $61,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,470 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $45,230 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 890 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.