Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in North Carolina
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in North Carolina earn a median of $58,620 a year ($28.18 an hour), based on BLS data for this job.
Pay ranges from $46,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,020 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $57,430. North Carolina ranks 25th of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay. The average (mean) salary is $55,860, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,780 | $22.49 |
| 25th percentile | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| Median | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| 75th percentile | $60,460 | $29.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,020 | $30.78 |
| Average (mean) | $55,860 | $26.85 |
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 | $4,885 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,442.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,254.62 |
| Weekly | $1,127.31 |
| Hourly | $28.18 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,860 | 200 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $59,030 | 140 |
| Asheville, NC | $58,710 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $53,420 | 80 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $57,300 | $27.55 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $59,030 | $28.38 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $85,630 | $41.17 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $56,320 | $27.08 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $57,760 | $27.77 |
| Construction Laborer | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,270 | $36.19 |
| Electrician | $56,800 | $27.31 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Carpenter | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $39,880 | $19.17 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $66,080 | $31.77 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Carolina is $58,620 a year, or $28.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Carolina earn at least $64,020 a year. The top 25% earn $60,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,780 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $49,360 or less.