Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salary in West Virginia
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in West Virginia earn a median of $74,950 a year ($36.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,100 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $74,500. West Virginia ranks 9th of 20 states for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining pay. There are 1.8 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 46.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $74,200, close to the median.
Pay range for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,120 | $30.83 |
| 25th percentile | $68,410 | $32.89 |
| Median | $74,950 | $36.04 |
| 75th percentile | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,100 | $38.99 |
| Average (mean) | $74,200 | $35.67 |
Half of loading and moving machine operators, underground 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 | $6,245.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,122.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,882.69 |
| Weekly | $1,441.35 |
| Hourly | $36.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salary in cities in West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $81,100 | 140 |
| Beckley, WV | $74,130 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $112,110 |
| Alaska | $93,130 |
| Nevada | $82,920 |
| South Carolina | $80,480 |
| Colorado | $79,150 |
| Virginia | $76,900 |
| Illinois | $75,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,240 |
| West Virginia | $74,950 |
| Arizona | $72,430 |
See Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining pay in every state.
Related jobs in West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $79,400 | $38.17 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $77,570 | $37.29 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $61,330 | $29.49 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $56,250 | $27.04 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $63,550 | $30.55 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $77,180 | $37.11 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $55,540 | $26.70 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $65,610 | $31.54 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $51,300 | $24.66 |
| Construction Laborer | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $80,060 | $38.49 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in West Virginia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5044. 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 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining make in West Virginia?
The median salary for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining in West Virginia is $74,950 a year, or $36.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid loading and moving machine operators, underground mining make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of loading and moving machine operators, underground mining in West Virginia earn at least $81,100 a year. The top 25% earn $78,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,120 a year, and a quarter of loading and moving machine operators, underground mining earn $68,410 or less.
How many loading and moving machine operators, underground mining work in West Virginia?
About 1,250 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.