Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $56,780 a year ($27.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,870 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 15% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $49,500. There are 0.10 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $60,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| 25th percentile | $53,030 | $25.50 |
| Median | $56,780 | $27.30 |
| 75th percentile | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Average (mean) | $60,040 | $28.87 |
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 | $4,731.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,365.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,183.85 |
| Weekly | $1,091.92 |
| Hourly | $27.30 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $53,800 | 120 |
| Jackson, MS | $50,030 | 50 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,430 | 40 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $47,800 | 80 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $46,490 | 50 |
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Construction Laborer | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| Electrician | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,850 | $36.47 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $58,690 | $28.22 |
| Carpenter | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $53,870 | $25.90 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $59,750 | $28.73 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $50,030 | $24.05 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $38,420 | $18.47 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Roofer | $46,480 | $22.34 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $60,780 | $29.22 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $56,780 a year, or $27.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $79,870 a year. The top 25% earn $79,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,600 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $53,030 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 60 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.