Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Wheeling, WV-OH
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn a median of $53,700 a year ($25.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,980 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 12% lower than the West Virginia statewide median of $61,330. There are 0.84 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,370 | $22.77 |
| 25th percentile | $49,810 | $23.95 |
| Median | $53,700 | $25.82 |
| 75th percentile | $67,520 | $32.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,980 | $38.93 |
| Average (mean) | $59,970 | $28.83 |
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 | $4,475 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,237.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,065.38 |
| Weekly | $1,032.69 |
| Hourly | $25.82 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | $65,900 | 110 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $61,770 | 40 |
| Toledo, OH | $61,070 | 100 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,040 | 540 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $60,950 | 60 |
| Beckley, WV | $60,610 | 90 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $59,560 | 210 |
| Columbus, OH | $57,870 | 130 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $48,190 | 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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $81,100 | $38.99 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $66,300 | $31.87 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $62,970 | $30.27 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $66,610 | $32.02 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $51,230 | $24.63 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $65,610 | $31.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,310 | $46.79 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $58,250 | $28.01 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Electrician | $66,970 | $32.20 |
| Carpenter | $50,120 | $24.10 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $64,060 | $30.80 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $43,080 | $20.71 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Wheeling, WV-OH
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 Wheeling, WV-OH?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area is $53,700 a year, or $25.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Wheeling, WV-OH?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn at least $80,980 a year. The top 25% earn $67,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Wheeling, WV-OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,370 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $49,810 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Wheeling, WV-OH?
About 50 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.