Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $73,300 a year ($35.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,700 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 14% higher than the Washington statewide median of $64,270. There are 0.10 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $76,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,360 | $25.17 |
| 25th percentile | $61,920 | $29.77 |
| Median | $73,300 | $35.24 |
| 75th percentile | $86,860 | $41.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,700 | $45.53 |
| Average (mean) | $76,920 | $36.98 |
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 | $6,108.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,054.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,819.23 |
| Weekly | $1,409.62 |
| Hourly | $35.24 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $66,160 | 110 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $60,180 | 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 or the Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $89,300 | $42.93 |
| Carpenter | $76,410 | $36.74 |
| Construction Laborer | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $121,130 | $58.24 |
| Electrician | $101,780 | $48.93 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $95,230 | $45.78 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $60,440 | $29.06 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $95,750 | $46.04 |
| Roofer | $64,090 | $30.81 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $109,830 | $52.80 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $80,860 | $38.88 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $75,560 | $36.33 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $102,830 | $49.44 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $60,290 | $28.99 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $73,300 a year, or $35.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $94,700 a year. The top 25% earn $86,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,360 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $61,920 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 210 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.