Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in New Jersey
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in New Jersey earn a median of $80,310 a year ($38.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,590 for the top 10%. That is 40% higher than the national median of $57,430. New Jersey ranks 3rd of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.17 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $88,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,220 | $26.07 |
| 25th percentile | $62,490 | $30.04 |
| Median | $80,310 | $38.61 |
| 75th percentile | $122,950 | $59.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,590 | $59.42 |
| Average (mean) | $88,110 | $42.36 |
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 | $6,692.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,346.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,088.85 |
| Weekly | $1,544.42 |
| Hourly | $38.61 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $94,960 | 880 |
| Vineland, NJ | $61,760 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,280 | 290 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $58,110 | 50 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $52,760 | 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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $77,950 | $37.48 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $100,520 | $48.33 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $53,820 | $25.87 |
| Construction Laborer | $64,060 | $30.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $105,510 | $50.73 |
| Carpenter | $64,010 | $30.77 |
| Electrician | $77,250 | $37.14 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $78,240 | $37.61 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $81,760 | $39.31 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $51,720 | $24.87 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,250 | $28.49 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $92,840 | $44.64 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $61,410 | $29.52 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in New Jersey is $80,310 a year, or $38.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in New Jersey earn at least $123,590 a year. The top 25% earn $122,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,220 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $62,490 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in New Jersey?
About 740 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.