Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Washington
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Washington earn a median of $64,270 a year ($30.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,150 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $57,430. Washington ranks 11th of 49 states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay. There are 0.18 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $71,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,970 | $24.50 |
| 25th percentile | $59,940 | $28.82 |
| Median | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| 75th percentile | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,150 | $44.78 |
| Average (mean) | $71,140 | $34.20 |
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 | $5,355.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,677.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,471.92 |
| Weekly | $1,235.96 |
| Hourly | $30.90 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $73,300 | 210 |
| 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.
Related jobs in Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $80,490 | $38.70 |
| Carpenter | $74,190 | $35.67 |
| Construction Laborer | $57,720 | $27.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $109,570 | $52.68 |
| Electrician | $95,220 | $45.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $81,030 | $38.96 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $81,700 | $39.28 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,650 | $28.68 |
| Roofer | $60,640 | $29.16 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $77,520 | $37.27 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $98,550 | $47.38 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $60,160 | $28.92 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $96,140 | $46.22 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $73,130 | $35.16 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Washington is $64,270 a year, or $30.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Washington?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Washington earn at least $93,150 a year. The top 25% earn $77,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,970 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $59,940 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Washington?
About 640 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.