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Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator

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What Do Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator Do?

Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator Job Description 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

  • Cut and move shale from open pits.
  • Signal that machine plow blades are properly positioned, using electronic buzzers or two-way radios.
  • Press buttons to activate conveyor belts, and push or pull chain handles to regulate conveyor movement so that material can be moved or loaded into dinkey cars or dump trucks.
  • Move planer levers to control and adjust the movement of equipment, the speed, height, and depth of cuts, and to rotate swivel cutting booms.
  • Observe indicator lights and gauges, and listen to machine operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment problems.
  • Signal crew members to adjust the speed of equipment to the rate of installation of roof supports, and to adjust the speed of conveyors to the volume of coal.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator?

These are the skills Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators say are the most useful in their careers:

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.

Types of Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator Jobs

  • Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Company Miner
  • Shearer Operator
  • Dozer Operator
  • Plane Runner
  • Cutter Operator

Are There Job Opportunities for Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators?

There were about 6,100 jobs for Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator. There will be an estimated 700 positions for Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator per 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.

Average Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators Salary

Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators make between $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.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators in different U.S. states.

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

Tools & Technologies Used by Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators

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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Where do Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators Work?

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Below are examples of industries where Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators work:

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

Career changers with experience as a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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