Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $49,430 a year ($23.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,390 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is about the same as the Tennessee statewide median of $49,500. There are 0.32 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| 25th percentile | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Median | $49,430 | $23.76 |
| 75th percentile | $57,540 | $27.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Average (mean) | $51,110 | $24.57 |
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 | $4,119.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,059.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,901.15 |
| Weekly | $950.58 |
| Hourly | $23.76 |
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 |
| Richmond, VA | $58,710 | 140 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $56,780 | 60 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $53,800 | 120 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $53,420 | 80 |
| Roanoke, VA | $46,610 | 30 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $55,960 | $26.90 |
| Electrician | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $69,610 | $33.47 |
| Carpenter | $48,340 | $23.24 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $59,360 | $28.54 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $48,310 | $23.22 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $39,750 | $19.11 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $56,820 | $27.32 |
| Pipelayer | $42,990 | $20.67 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| Roofer | $39,720 | $19.10 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $57,450 | $27.62 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $49,430 a year, or $23.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $60,390 a year. The top 25% earn $57,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,630 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $45,130 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 40 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.