Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining · North Carolina

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in North Carolina

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $58,620 —2.1% above the national median of $57,430. That ranks NC #25 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$58,620
Median hourly
$28.18
Entry level (P10)
$46,780
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$64,020
90th percentile
Employment
—
vs U.S. median
+2.1%
U.S. $57,430

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$46,780
$49,360
$58,620
$60,460
$46,780$58,620$64,020
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $58,620.

Highest-paying states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1North Dakota$90,380$43.452202.31
2Illinois$80,600$38.751,3100.97
3New Jersey$80,310$38.617400.78
4Wyoming$78,230$37.614206.72
5New Mexico$76,350$36.712701.42
6Massachusetts$76,070$36.572800.35
7Alaska$74,680$35.901401.99
8California$74,500$35.827900.19
9Montana$65,850$31.661501.35
10Connecticut$65,710$31.592800.73

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

Frequently asked questions

How much do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Carolina is $58,620, or $28.18 per hour. That is 2.1% above the national median of $57,430.

What is the entry-level excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $46,780 per year ($22.49/hour). The 25th percentile is $49,360.

How many people work as excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in North Carolina?

About — people work in this occupation in North Carolina.

Is North Carolina a good state for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining?

North Carolina ranks #25 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation.

Which state pays excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining the most?

North Dakota has the highest median wage at $90,380 per year, followed by Illinois ($80,600) and New Jersey ($80,310).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes