What You Need to Know About Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator
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.
A Day in the Life of a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator
- Monitor movement of shale along conveyors from hoppers to trucks or railcars.
- Cut slots along working faces of coal, salt, or other non-metal deposits to facilitate blasting, by moving levers to start the machine, and to control the vertical reciprocating drills.
- Move controls to start and position drill cutters or torches and advance tools into mines or quarry faces to complete horizontal or vertical cuts.
- Position jacks, timbers, or roof supports, and install casings, to prevent cave-ins.
- Remove debris such as loose shale from channels and planer travel areas.
- Signal that machine plow blades are properly positioned, using electronic buzzers or two-way radios.
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Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator Needed Skills
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.
Related Job Titles
- Bore Miner Operator
- Plane Tender
- Flame Channeler
- Coal Cutter
- Miner
Is There Going to be Demand 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 700 job openings in this field each year.

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.
How Much Does a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator Make?
The typical yearly salary for Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators is somewhere between $28,680 and $74,250.

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 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
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
Becoming a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator
Are there Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators education requirements?

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

Who Employs Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators?

The table below shows the approximate number of Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Mine Cutting or Channeling Machine Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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