Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in North Dakota
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in North Dakota earn a median of $90,380 a year ($43.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,880 for the top 10%. That is 57% higher than the national median of $57,430. North Dakota ranks 1st 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 0.51 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $88,100, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| 25th percentile | $59,930 | $28.81 |
| Median | $90,380 | $43.45 |
| 75th percentile | $120,080 | $57.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,880 | $59.56 |
| Average (mean) | $88,100 | $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 | $7,531.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,765.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,476.15 |
| Weekly | $1,738.08 |
| Hourly | $43.45 |
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 North Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $60,810 | $29.24 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $60,480 | $29.08 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $71,850 | $34.55 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $71,280 | $34.27 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $62,570 | $30.08 |
| Construction Laborer | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $81,370 | $39.12 |
| Electrician | $65,710 | $31.59 |
| Carpenter | $57,890 | $27.83 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,560 | $30.56 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,710 | $27.74 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $54,870 | $26.38 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in North Dakota
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 Dakota?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Dakota is $90,380 a year, or $43.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in North Dakota?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Dakota earn at least $123,880 a year. The top 25% earn $120,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,440 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $59,930 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in North Dakota?
About 220 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in North Dakota, not counting the self-employed.