Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in South Dakota
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in South Dakota earn a median of $48,250 a year ($23.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,980 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $57,430. South Dakota ranks 44th of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay. There are 0.61 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| 25th percentile | $44,810 | $21.55 |
| Median | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| 75th percentile | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,980 | $29.80 |
| Average (mean) | $50,850 | $24.45 |
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 | $4,020.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,010.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,855.77 |
| Weekly | $927.88 |
| Hourly | $23.20 |
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 South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $48,250 | 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 South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $57,160 | $27.48 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $45,250 | $21.75 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $50,370 | $24.22 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $56,780 | $27.30 |
| Carpenter | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Electrician | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,500 | $28.61 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,710 | $21.98 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $51,620 | $24.82 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $48,160 | $23.15 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in South 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 South Dakota?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in South Dakota is $48,250 a year, or $23.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in South Dakota earn at least $61,980 a year. The top 25% earn $57,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,600 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $44,810 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in South Dakota?
About 280 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.