Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn a median of $56,480 a year ($27.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,790 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 8% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $52,350. 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 $53,000, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| 25th percentile | $48,640 | $23.39 |
| Median | $56,480 | $27.16 |
| 75th percentile | $56,480 | $27.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,790 | $27.78 |
| Average (mean) | $53,000 | $25.48 |
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 | $4,706.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,353.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,172.31 |
| Weekly | $1,086.15 |
| Hourly | $27.16 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,280 | 290 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $52,760 | 50 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $51,210 | 270 |
| Lancaster, PA | $50,850 | 100 |
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 or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Construction Laborer | $48,290 | $23.22 |
| Carpenter | $60,240 | $28.96 |
| Electrician | $69,540 | $33.44 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $78,660 | $37.82 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,330 | $28.52 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $48,860 | $23.49 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,160 | $29.40 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $61,630 | $29.63 |
| Roofer | $49,620 | $23.86 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,000 | $27.89 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $65,250 | $31.37 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $80,540 | $38.72 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area is $56,480 a year, or $27.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn at least $57,790 a year. The top 25% earn $56,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,150 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $48,640 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
About 80 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.