Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining is $74,500, or $35.82 per hour. About 5,930 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $112,110 in Wyoming to $44,760 in Oklahoma.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 20 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $112,110 | $53.90 | 30 | 3.22 |
| 2 | Alaska | $93,130 | $44.77 | 50 | 3.94 |
| 3 | Nevada | $82,920 | $39.87 | 880 | 14.95 |
| 4 | South Carolina | $80,480 | $38.69 | 30 | 0.36 |
| 5 | Colorado | $79,150 | $38.05 | 70 | 0.61 |
| 6 | Virginia | $76,900 | $36.97 | 190 | 1.21 |
| 7 | Illinois | $75,890 | $36.48 | 90 | 0.40 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $75,240 | $36.17 | — | — |
| 9 | West Virginia | $74,950 | $36.04 | 1,250 | 46.62 |
| 10 | Arizona | $72,430 | $34.82 | 100 | 0.80 |
| 11 | Ohio | $71,380 | $34.32 | 130 | 0.62 |
| 12 | New York | $60,890 | $29.28 | 140 | 0.39 |
| 13 | Alabama | $60,020 | $28.86 | 510 | 6.37 |
| 14 | Michigan | $59,310 | $28.52 | 80 | 0.50 |
| 15 | Missouri | $52,040 | $25.02 | 100 | 0.94 |
| 16 | Georgia | $50,380 | $24.22 | 100 | 0.53 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $48,670 | $23.40 | 110 | 1.50 |
| 18 | Iowa | $48,490 | $23.31 | 100 | 1.76 |
| 19 | Texas | $47,310 | $22.75 | 70 | 0.13 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $44,760 | $21.52 | 70 | 1.09 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do loading and moving machine operators, underground mining make?
The median annual wage for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining in the United States is $74,500, or $35.82 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $52,030, and the top 10% earn $87,730.
How many loading and moving machine operators, underground mining are employed in the U.S.?
About 5,930 people work as loading and moving machine operators, underground mining nationwide.
Which state pays loading and moving machine operators, underground mining the most?
Wyoming pays the most at a median of $112,110, followed by Alaska ($93,130) and Nevada ($82,920).
Which state pays loading and moving machine operators, underground mining the least?
Oklahoma has the lowest median at $44,760.
Where are loading and moving machine operators, underground mining jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is West Virginia at 46.62×.