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Roof Bolters, Mining in West Virginia
Thinking about a career as a Roof Bolters, Mining in West Virginia? Here’s what the data says. Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.
What do Roof Bolters, Mining Make in West Virginia?
The roof bolters, mining working in West Virginia, the typical annual salary is $78,970 per year (or roughly $37.97/hour).Annual wages span from $61,010 at the 10th percentile to $81,780 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| 25th percentile | $76,040 | $36.56 |
| Median (50th) | $78,970 | $37.97 |
| 75th percentile | $80,370 | $38.64 |
| 90th percentile | $81,780 | $39.32 |
The job concentration index in West Virginia relative to the national average — is 102.11, meaning that roof bolters, mining are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, roof bolters, mining earn a median of $76,611 per year ($36.83/hour), exceeding the West Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 708,457 roof bolters, mining across the United States. In West Virginia alone, around 1,040 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 160 roof bolters, mining.
Top West Virginia Metros for Roof Bolters, Mining
These are the West Virginia metros with the most roof bolters, mining in West Virginia.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 190 | $76,040 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 150 | $81,810 |
Top States for Roof Bolters, Mining Employment
The table below shows the states where the most roof bolters, mining work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | 1,040 |
| Virginia | 160 |
| Kentucky | 150 |
| Wyoming | 100 |
Highest-Paying States for Roof Bolters, Mining
The highest-paying states for roof bolters, mining.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $113,750 |
| West Virginia | $78,970 |
| Virginia | $75,700 |
| Kentucky | $70,620 |
Skills
Top roof bolters, mining skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for roof bolters, mining, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, roof bolters, mining typically:
- Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.
- Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported.
- Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks.
- Perform safety checks on equipment before operating.
- Perform tests to determine if methane gas is present.
- Force bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines.
- Perform ventilation tasks, such as hanging ventilation curtains and tubes.
- Dust rocks after bolting.
- Install various types of bolts, including truss, glue, and resin bolts, traversing entire ceiling spans.
- Drill test holes and test bolts for specified tension, using torque wrenches.
- Position safety jacks to support underground mine roofs until bolts can be installed.
- Rotate chucks to turn bolts and open expansion heads against rock formations.
Work Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Training and Teaching Others
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Performing General Physical Activities
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used:
- Caterpillar Cat MineStar System (enterprise resource planning erp software)
- Caterpillar Command (industrial control software)
Related Careers
Related occupations to roof bolters, mining include:
- Carpenters
- Pile Driver Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Also Known As
Bolt Machine Operator, Bolt Man, Bolter, Bolting Inspector, Bolting Machine Operator, Miner, Place Change Roof Bolter, Roof Bolter, Roof Bolter Operator, Roof Bolting Coal Miner, Truss Assembler, Underground Bolting Machine Operator, Underground Miner, Underground Roof Bolter.
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: 47-5043.00