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Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator

What Do Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator Do?

Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator Definition Operate machinery such as longwall shears, plows, and cutting machines to cut or channel along the face or seams of coal mines, stone quarries, or other mining surfaces to facilitate blasting, separating, or removing minerals or materials from mines or from the Earth’s surface. Includes shale planers.

Life As a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator

  • Remove debris such as loose shale from channels and planer travel areas.
  • Guide and assist crews in laying track for machines and resetting planer rails, supports, and blocking, using jacks, shovels, sledges, picks, and pinch bars.
  • Cut and move shale from open pits.
  • Charge and set off explosives in blasting holes.
  • Signal that machine plow blades are properly positioned, using electronic buzzers or two-way radios.
  • Cut entries between rooms and haulage ways.

Skills Needed to be a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator

Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

  • Miner Operator
  • Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Clay Miner
  • Shearer Operator
  • Channel Machine Operator
  • Heavy Machinery Operator

Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator Employment Estimates

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 6,100 jobs in the United States for Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 700 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator are Alaska, Missouri, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Georgia, Illinois, or Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator Salary

The salary for Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators ranges between about $28,680 and $74,250 a year.

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Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators who work in Wyoming, West Virginia, or Pennsylvania, make the highest salaries.

How much do Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $52,250
California $58,290
Colorado $56,730
Illinois $48,230
Indiana $44,160
Kentucky $41,290
Missouri $37,400
New York $39,720
Ohio $50,000
Oklahoma $35,960
Pennsylvania $60,830
South Carolina $46,740
Tennessee $42,280
Texas $34,500
Virginia $38,630
West Virginia $62,110
Wyoming $80,740

What Tools do Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators:

  • Microsoft Excel

Becoming a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator

Are there Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators education requirements?

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What work experience do I need to become a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator?

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator might also be interested in the following careers:

Those who work as a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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