SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, shuttle cars, or trucks in a continuous operation.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 47-5041.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $46,770 | $3,898 | $899 | $22.49 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $51,610 | $4,301 | $992 | $24.81 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $61,810 | $5,151 | $1,189 | $29.72 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $77,570 | $6,464 | $1,492 | $37.29 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $86,210 | $7,184 | $1,658 | $41.45 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Continuous Mining Machine Operators is $61,810, which is 21% higher. Among the 60 occupations of the field Construction and Extraction, it ranks number 17 by median pay. With 14,000 jobs, it makes up about 0.9 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Continuous Mining Machine Operators pay by state
The highest median pay was in Minnesota ($90,820), Nevada ($85,590) and Wyoming ($85,260). The lowest was in New York ($46,450), Oklahoma ($46,980) and Missouri ($47,280). The most jobs were in Arizona (2,850), Nevada (1,110) and California (940). The occupation is most concentrated in Wyoming, where its share of all jobs is 13.0 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 420 | $90,820 | $83,780 | $43.66 |
| Nevada | 1,110 | $85,590 | $83,490 | $41.15 |
| Wyoming | 330 | $85,260 | $94,630 | $40.99 |
| Colorado | 290 | $81,110 | $81,120 | $38.99 |
| West Virginia | 720 | $77,570 | $73,030 | $37.29 |
| Illinois | 230 | $74,830 | $65,250 | $35.98 |
| Indiana | 170 | $71,570 | $71,180 | $34.41 |
| Virginia | 230 | $63,480 | $66,390 | $30.52 |
| California | 940 | $62,790 | $69,250 | $30.19 |
| Florida | 230 | $62,580 | $55,910 | $30.09 |
| Idaho | 70 | $60,990 | $63,140 | $29.32 |
| Arizona | 2,850 | $60,880 | $63,380 | $29.27 |
| Pennsylvania | 510 | $60,780 | $58,730 | $29.22 |
| Utah | 890 | $59,420 | $64,100 | $28.57 |
| Alabama | 340 | $59,360 | $59,640 | $28.54 |
| North Carolina | 230 | $59,030 | $58,960 | $28.38 |
| Ohio | 260 | $58,030 | $60,010 | $27.90 |
| Michigan | 180 | $57,760 | $61,860 | $27.77 |
| Georgia | 140 | $57,160 | $56,470 | $27.48 |
| Nebraska | 70 | $51,760 | $56,310 | $24.88 |
| Kentucky | 390 | $50,020 | $56,920 | $24.05 |
| Texas | 390 | $48,950 | $46,890 | $23.53 |
| New Mexico | 470 | $48,900 | $51,030 | $23.51 |
| Arkansas | 80 | $47,890 | $49,110 | $23.03 |
| Missouri | 920 | $47,280 | $51,950 | $22.73 |
| Oklahoma | 310 | $46,980 | $48,380 | $22.59 |
| New York | 180 | $46,450 | $50,190 | $22.33 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Electricians$63,190 a year
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,780 a year
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons$62,120 a year
- Sheet Metal Workers$61,800 a year
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$61,390 a year
- Carpenters$60,580 a year
Common questions
How much do Continuous Mining Machine Operators earn in the United States?
The median pay was $61,810 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,770 and the highest-paid 10% more than $86,210.
How many people work as Continuous Mining Machine Operators?
About 14,000 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.