Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn a median of $65,290 a year ($31.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,590 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 5% higher than the Indiana statewide median of $61,910. There are 0.33 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $64,530, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| 25th percentile | $51,740 | $24.88 |
| Median | $65,290 | $31.39 |
| 75th percentile | $67,980 | $32.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,590 | $42.11 |
| Average (mean) | $64,530 | $31.03 |
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 | $5,440.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,720.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,511.15 |
| Weekly | $1,255.58 |
| Hourly | $31.39 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $87,060 | 570 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,330 | 320 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,140 | 240 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $59,560 | 210 |
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 Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| Electrician | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,520 | $40.15 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $83,460 | $40.12 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $62,780 | $30.19 |
| Carpenter | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,540 | $27.66 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,000 | $22.11 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $68,090 | $32.73 |
| Roofer | $44,140 | $21.22 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $65,290 a year, or $31.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn at least $87,590 a year. The top 25% earn $67,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,080 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $51,740 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
About 30 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.