All About Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Career Description Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors or into shuttle cars in a continuous operation.
A Day in the Life of a Continuous Mining Machine Operator
- Move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing.
- Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
- Scrape or wash conveyors, using belt scrapers or belt washers, to minimize dust production.
- Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
- Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.
- Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
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What Every Continuous Mining Machine Operator Should Know
When polled, Continuous Mining Machine Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Crusher Plant Operator
- Continuous Mining Machine Company Miner
- Miner
- Longwall Foreman
- Crusher Loader Operator
Job Outlook for Continuous Mining Machine Operators
In the United States, there were 12,300 jobs for Continuous Mining Machine Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Continuous Mining Machine Operator. The BLS estimates 1,400 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Continuous Mining Machine Operator are Texas, Missouri, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Georgia, Kentucky, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Continuous Mining Machine Operator Average Salary
Continuous Mining Machine Operators make between $36,310 and $74,800 a year.

Continuous Mining Machine Operators who work in Wyoming, Alaska, or Montana, make the highest salaries.
How much do Continuous Mining Machine Operators make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alaska | $69,080 |
Arizona | $47,920 |
Arkansas | $39,670 |
California | $47,490 |
Colorado | $60,910 |
Florida | $49,980 |
Georgia | $45,830 |
Idaho | $60,040 |
Illinois | $59,040 |
Indiana | $54,610 |
Iowa | $41,030 |
Kentucky | $50,180 |
Maryland | $37,870 |
Michigan | $42,850 |
Missouri | $44,670 |
Montana | $70,310 |
Nevada | $62,290 |
New Mexico | $61,400 |
New York | $45,740 |
North Carolina | $47,330 |
Oklahoma | $34,720 |
Pennsylvania | $45,500 |
South Carolina | $50,090 |
South Dakota | $41,110 |
Texas | $36,900 |
Virginia | $47,030 |
Washington | $46,810 |
West Virginia | $54,660 |
Wisconsin | $45,450 |
Wyoming | $78,210 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Continuous Mining Machine Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Word processing software
- Minitab
Becoming a Continuous Mining Machine Operator
Learn what Continuous Mining Machine Operator education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Continuous Mining Machine Operator?

Where do Continuous Mining Machine Operators Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Continuous Mining Machine Operators employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Continuous Mining Machine Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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