---

Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining: Career Profile

Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.

The Daily Work of Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Take On?

Typical responsibilities of loading and moving machine operators, underground mining cover:

• Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.
• Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.
• Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.
• Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.
• Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses.
• Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines.
• Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel.
• Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces.

Key Skills and Knowledge

Successful loading and moving machine operators, underground mining combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.

Key Skills

These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Other Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Job Titles

This career also goes by job titles like:

• Buggy Driver
• Buggy Man
• Buggy Operator
• Buggy Runner
• Car Dropper
• Car Dumper
• Car Pincher
• Cart Driver

How Many Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Are There?

There are about 651,977 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +12.5% over the projection horizon.

How Much Do Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Make?

Statistic	Value
Annual median	$79,224
Hourly median	$38.09
10th percentile	$51,486
25th percentile	$65,355
75th percentile	$93,093
90th percentile	$106,962

Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.

How Much Do Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Make in Different U.S. States?

State	Annual median salary
Wyoming	$104,010
Alaska	$89,830
Nevada	$80,840
Virginia	$77,440
Illinois	$75,820
Colorado	$74,420
West Virginia	$73,260
Pennsylvania	$68,780
Kentucky	$67,510
Ohio	$65,920
Alabama	$58,730
New York	$56,960
Indiana	$52,150
Georgia	$51,690
Missouri	$50,860
Florida	$47,030
Iowa	$45,420
Oklahoma	$43,490
Louisiana	$38,460

Where Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Earn the Most

Compensation for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:

Region	Median annual wage	Share of U.S. jobs	Location quotient
Rocky Mountains	$83,666	3.2%	2.10
Far Western US	$82,690	20.5%	13.95
Southeast	$70,049	46.7%	40.56
Middle Atlantic	$65,287	8.9%	1.03
Great Lakes	$64,387	14.3%	1.31
Plains States	$48,366	4.8%	1.43
Southwest	$43,490	1.6%	1.17

Where the Jobs Cluster

Metro area	State	Median annual wage	Employment
Wheeling, WV-OH	WV	$77,450	200
Beckley, WV	WV	$71,090	210
Tuscaloosa, AL	AL	$58,020	140

Top Industries Employing Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining

Most loading and moving machine operators, underground mining work in these industries:

Industry	Employment	Median annual wage
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction	5,650	$70,800
Construction	150	$47,760
Manufacturing	100	$46,840

Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining work in the following industries:

Software Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Use

• Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
• Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
• Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
• Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)

Work Environment

The on-the-job environment of loading and moving machine operators, underground mining reflects the following characteristics:

• Exposed to Contaminants
• 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
• Exposed to Hazardous Equipment

Getting Started in This Career

Typical loading and moving machine operators, underground mining positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.

Other Careers to Consider

Similar Occupations

• Logging Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
• Pile Driver Operators (Primary-Long)
• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Long)
• Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
• Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (Primary-Short)
• Continuous Mining Machine Operators (Primary-Short)
• Helpers–Extraction Workers (Supplemental)
• Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Supplemental)

References

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: 47-5044.00 (Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining).