The average salary for a mining machine operator in the United States is around $61,810 per year.
Avg Salary
Mining machine operators earn an average yearly salary of $61,810.
Wages typically start from $46,770 and go up to $86,210.
7% below national average Updated in 2025
Mining machine operator earnings by seniority
Top-level mining machine operator earnings begin at:
$41.45 per hour
$86,210 per year
Senior-level mining machine operator earnings begin at:
$37.29 per hour
$77,570 per year
Mid-level mining machine operator earnings begin at:
$29.72 per hour
$61,810 per year
Junior-level mining machine operator earnings begin at:
$24.81 per hour
$51,610 per year
Starting level mining machine operator earnings begin at:
$22.49 per hour
$46,770 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Mining machine operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $90,820 |
| Nevada | $85,590 |
| Wyoming | $85,260 |
| Colorado | $81,110 |
| West Virginia | $77,570 |
| Illinois | $74,830 |
| Indiana | $71,570 |
| Alaska | $70,550 |
| Montana | $68,580 |
| Virginia | $63,480 |
| California | $62,790 |
| Florida | $62,580 |
| Idaho | $60,990 |
| Arizona | $60,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,780 |
| Utah | $59,420 |
| Alabama | $59,360 |
| North Carolina | $59,030 |
| Ohio | $58,030 |
| Michigan | $57,760 |
| Georgia | $57,160 |
| Nebraska | $51,760 |
| Kentucky | $50,020 |
| South Carolina | $48,950 |
| Texas | $48,950 |
| New Mexico | $48,900 |
| Arkansas | $47,890 |
| Missouri | $47,280 |
| Oklahoma | $46,980 |
| Washington | $46,620 |
| New York | $46,450 |
| Wisconsin | $43,820 |
| Tennessee | $40,620 |
| Iowa | $39,080 |
| South Dakota | $38,630 |
| Maryland | $36,020 |
How do mining machine operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Mining machine operators earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than sheet metal workers but more than derrick operators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Sheet metal worker salary | $62K |
| Tool and die maker salary | $64K |
| Rigger salary | $63K |
| Quality control inspector salary | $62K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $62K |
| Mining machine operator salary | $62K |
| Pump operator salary | $62K |
| Chemical technician salary | $60K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $60K |
| Derrick operator salary | $59K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)