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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in North Dakota

Considering working as an Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in North Dakota? Below are the key facts. 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 Make in North Dakota?

For a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining working in North Dakota, wages run about $76,690 per year (or about $36.87/hour).Pay can range from $48,890 at the 10th percentile to $120,780 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$48,890	$23.50
25th percentile	$55,560	$26.71
Median (50th)	$76,690	$36.87
75th percentile	$120,760	$58.06
90th percentile	$120,780	$58.07

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in North Dakota nationwide is 2.11, indicating that excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn a median of $42,921 per year ($20.64/hour), above the North Dakota median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 698,748 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining across the United States. In North Dakota alone, around 200 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 580 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining.

Top States for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Employment

The table below shows the states where the most excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	4,910
Pennsylvania	1,660
Florida	1,660
Virginia	1,480
New York	1,410
Georgia	1,390
Oklahoma	1,270
Ohio	1,040
Illinois	1,020
Indiana	950
California	900
New Jersey	840
Colorado	820
Kentucky	780
West Virginia	780
Washington	760
Michigan	750
Minnesota	740
Maryland	730
Iowa	710

Highest-Paying States for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

Where excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn the most: excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining.

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

Skills

The most important excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining typically:

• 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.
• Lubricate, adjust, or repair machinery and replace parts, such as gears, bearings, or bucket teeth.
• Handle slides, mud, or pit cleanings or maintenance.
• Direct workers engaged in placing blocks or outriggers to prevent capsizing of machines when lifting heavy loads.
• Measure and verify levels of rock or gravel, bases, or other excavated material.

Work Activities

• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Ground Transportation

Related Careers

Related occupations to excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining include:

• Agricultural Equipment Operators
• Construction Laborers
• Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
• Pile Driver Operators
• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
• Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Also Known 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, Coal Equipment Operator, Diesel Scoop Operator, Dragline Oiler, Dragline Operator, Earth Moving Equipment Operator, Earth Moving Machine Operator, Earth Moving Technician.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 47-5022.00