Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $53,420 a year ($25.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,860 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 10% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $59,480. There are 0.11 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $54,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| 25th percentile | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Median | $53,420 | $25.68 |
| 75th percentile | $65,850 | $31.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,860 | $32.15 |
| Average (mean) | $54,170 | $26.04 |
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 | $4,451.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,225.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,054.62 |
| Weekly | $1,027.31 |
| Hourly | $25.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $53,420 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,040 | 540 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,860 | 200 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $59,030 | 140 |
| Asheville, NC | $58,710 | 30 |
| Richmond, VA | $58,710 | 140 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,430 | 40 |
| Roanoke, VA | $46,610 | 30 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $80,950 | $38.92 |
| Electrician | $62,350 | $29.98 |
| Construction Laborer | $38,490 | $18.51 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,870 | $29.75 |
| Carpenter | $51,500 | $24.76 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $52,060 | $25.03 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $63,390 | $30.48 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $47,110 | $22.65 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $64,710 | $31.11 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $49,580 | $23.84 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $58,630 | $28.19 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $50,370 | $24.22 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $53,420 a year, or $25.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $66,860 a year. The top 25% earn $65,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,790 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $47,960 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 80 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.