Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Montana
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Montana earn a median of $65,850 a year ($31.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,910 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $57,430. Montana ranks 9th of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay. There are 0.30 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 $66,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Montana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,990 | $19.71 |
| 25th percentile | $52,430 | $25.21 |
| Median | $65,850 | $31.66 |
| 75th percentile | $81,480 | $39.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,910 | $44.67 |
| Average (mean) | $66,850 | $32.14 |
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 | $5,487.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,743.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,532.69 |
| Weekly | $1,266.35 |
| Hourly | $31.66 |
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 Montana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $77,750 | $37.38 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $71,470 | $34.36 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $51,200 | $24.61 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $84,410 | $40.58 |
| Construction Laborer | $49,830 | $23.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| Carpenter | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $61,580 | $29.61 |
| Electrician | $76,760 | $36.90 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $79,960 | $38.44 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $60,960 | $29.31 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Montana
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 Montana?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Montana is $65,850 a year, or $31.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Montana?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Montana earn at least $92,910 a year. The top 25% earn $81,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Montana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,990 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $52,430 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Montana?
About 150 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in Montana, not counting the self-employed.