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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining: Job Description
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
What Do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining cover:
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
- Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
- Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.
- Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
- Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
- Create or maintain inclines or ramps.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Aerial Tram Operator
- Air Shovel Operator
- Back Digger Operator
- Back Filler Operator
- Back Hoe Machine Operator
- Back Hoe Operator
- Backhoe Operator
- Clam Shovel Operator
How Many Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Are There?
There are roughly 698,748 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +1.7% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $42,921 |
| Hourly median | $20.64 |
| 10th percentile | $29,321 |
| 25th percentile | $36,121 |
| 75th percentile | $49,721 |
| 90th percentile | $56,520 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $105,490 |
| Minnesota | $79,060 |
| Alaska | $78,690 |
| North Dakota | $76,690 |
| Wyoming | $76,160 |
| Massachusetts | $74,300 |
| California | $73,580 |
| Indiana | $68,200 |
| Maryland | $65,060 |
| Montana | $64,740 |
| West Virginia | $62,930 |
| Washington | $62,530 |
| District of Columbia | $62,400 |
| Illinois | $62,320 |
| Colorado | $61,660 |
| New Hampshire | $60,730 |
| Oregon | $60,230 |
| Connecticut | $60,020 |
| Vermont | $59,200 |
| Wisconsin | $57,830 |
| New Mexico | $57,160 |
| Idaho | $57,140 |
| Arizona | $57,110 |
| Nevada | $56,510 |
| New York | $56,460 |
| Ohio | $56,020 |
| Missouri | $55,500 |
| Maine | $55,340 |
| Delaware | $55,300 |
| Michigan | $53,770 |
| Virginia | $53,770 |
| Utah | $52,240 |
| Iowa | $52,170 |
| South Dakota | $51,920 |
| North Carolina | $50,840 |
| Nebraska | $50,020 |
| Kansas | $49,670 |
| Georgia | $48,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,730 |
| Texas | $47,840 |
| Florida | $47,220 |
| Tennessee | $47,110 |
| Kentucky | $46,480 |
| Alabama | $46,130 |
| South Carolina | $46,130 |
| Arkansas | $45,270 |
| Oklahoma | $44,990 |
| Louisiana | $43,670 |
| Mississippi | $41,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,910 |
Where Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Earn the Most
Pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $65,408 | 7.9% | 0.96 |
| Middle Atlantic | $63,801 | 13.8% | 0.99 |
| New England | $61,434 | 3.0% | 1.50 |
| Rocky Mountains | $61,118 | 6.8% | 2.31 |
| Plains States | $60,708 | 8.6% | 1.52 |
| Great Lakes | $59,989 | 12.9% | 0.94 |
| Southeast | $49,471 | 26.8% | 1.48 |
| Southwest | $48,141 | 19.8% | 1.86 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $139,310 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $121,790 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $95,260 | 30 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $94,470 | 1,140 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | WV | $84,640 | 60 |
| Farmington, NM | NM | $83,610 | 60 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $79,830 | 390 |
| Vineland, NJ | NJ | $78,260 | 30 |
Top Industries Employing Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
The largest employers of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 20,530 | $53,520 |
| Construction | 8,470 | $54,570 |
| Manufacturing | 1,280 | $52,550 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,180 | $45,390 |
| Wholesale Trade | 300 | $52,840 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 290 | $49,560 |
| Utilities | 280 | $133,570 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 200 | $55,150 |
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining work in the following industries:
Software Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
Getting Started in This Career
Typical excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Agricultural Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Short)
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Pile Driver Operators (Primary-Long)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Short)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining often complete programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-5022.00 (Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining).
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