Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Louisiana
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Louisiana earn a median of $53,510 a year ($25.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,120 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $57,430. Louisiana ranks 35th of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay. There are 0.14 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $49,000, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,660 | $11.38 |
| 25th percentile | $39,500 | $18.99 |
| Median | $53,510 | $25.73 |
| 75th percentile | $58,220 | $27.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,120 | $30.83 |
| Average (mean) | $49,000 | $23.56 |
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 | $4,459.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,229.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,058.08 |
| Weekly | $1,029.04 |
| Hourly | $25.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $44,850 | $21.56 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $49,410 | $23.76 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $86,980 | $41.82 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $39,900 | $19.18 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $48,670 | $23.40 |
| Construction Laborer | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,360 | $36.23 |
| Electrician | $61,540 | $29.59 |
| Carpenter | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,680 | $30.62 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Louisiana
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 Louisiana?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Louisiana is $53,510 a year, or $25.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Louisiana earn at least $64,120 a year. The top 25% earn $58,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,660 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $39,500 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Louisiana?
About 280 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.