Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Minnesota
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Minnesota earn a median of $61,260 a year ($29.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,030 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $57,430. Minnesota ranks 16th of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay. There are 0.18 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $65,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Minnesota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,100 | $22.65 |
| 25th percentile | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| Median | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| 75th percentile | $81,790 | $39.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,030 | $40.88 |
| Average (mean) | $65,580 | $31.53 |
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 | $5,105 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,552.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,356.15 |
| Weekly | $1,178.08 |
| Hourly | $29.45 |
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 Minnesota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $81,180 | 210 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $48,250 | 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.
Related jobs in Minnesota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $83,120 | $39.96 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $90,820 | $43.66 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $57,970 | $27.87 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,260 | $28.97 |
| Carpenter | $64,930 | $31.22 |
| Electrician | $78,160 | $37.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,610 | $46.93 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $94,410 | $45.39 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $79,130 | $38.04 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $63,150 | $30.36 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $57,270 | $27.54 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $66,830 | $32.13 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Minnesota
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 Minnesota?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Minnesota is $61,260 a year, or $29.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Minnesota?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Minnesota earn at least $85,030 a year. The top 25% earn $81,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Minnesota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,100 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $49,540 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Minnesota?
About 520 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in Minnesota, not counting the self-employed.