Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Illinois
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Illinois earn a median of $80,600 a year ($38.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,290 for the top 10%. That is 40% higher than the national median of $57,430. Illinois ranks 2nd of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.22 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $73,360, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| 25th percentile | $57,720 | $27.75 |
| Median | $80,600 | $38.75 |
| 75th percentile | $87,580 | $42.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,290 | $44.85 |
| Average (mean) | $73,360 | $35.27 |
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 | $6,716.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,358.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,100 |
| Weekly | $1,550 |
| Hourly | $38.75 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $87,060 | 570 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,990 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,250 | 170 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $57,640 | 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.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $79,080 | $38.02 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $74,830 | $35.98 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $41,680 | $20.04 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $81,860 | $39.36 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $60,520 | $29.10 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $75,890 | $36.48 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $72,800 | $35.00 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $45,900 | $22.07 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Electrician | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Carpenter | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $105,750 | $50.84 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $99,950 | $48.05 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Illinois is $80,600 a year, or $38.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Illinois?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Illinois earn at least $93,290 a year. The top 25% earn $87,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,130 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $57,720 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Illinois?
About 1,310 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.