Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining · Tennessee

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Tennessee

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $49,500 —13.8% below the national median of $57,430. That ranks TN #40 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$49,500
Median hourly
$23.80
Entry level (P10)
$40,800
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$76,000
90th percentile
Employment
550
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-13.8%
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
$40,800
$45,880
$49,500
$59,130
$40,800$49,500$76,000
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $49,500.

Employment is only 0.76× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.

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

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

Frequently asked questions

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

The median annual wage for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Tennessee is $49,500, or $23.80 per hour. That is 13.8% below the national median of $57,430.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $40,800 per year ($19.62/hour). The 25th percentile is $45,880.

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

About 550 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

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

Tennessee ranks #40 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.76x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.

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