Continuous Mining Machine Operator Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Continuous Mining Machine Operators — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$61,810
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$29.72
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$86,210
entry level starts ~$46,770
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 14,000 employed

How much does a Continuous Mining Machine Operator make?

Continuous Mining Machine Operators in the United States bring home a median salary of $61,810 a year, or around $29.72 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $46,770, while the top 10% earn $86,210.

That is $420 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary range by percentile

Half of all Continuous Mining Machine Operators earn between $51,610 and $77,570 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$46,770$22.49
25th percentile (early career)$51,610$24.81
50th percentile (median)$61,810$29.72
75th percentile (experienced)$77,570$37.29
90th percentile (top earners)$86,210$41.45

Highest-paying states for Continuous Mining Machine Operator

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Minnesota leads the country for Continuous Mining Machine Operator pay at $90,820 a year, followed by Nevada ($85,590) and Wyoming ($85,260). At the other end, New York posts the lowest median at $46,450 — a gap of $44,370 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Minnesota$90,820$43.66+47%
2Nevada$85,590$41.15+38%
3Wyoming$85,260$40.99+38%
4Colorado$81,110$39.00+31%
5West Virginia$77,570$37.29+25%

Workforce and education

About 14,000 people work as Continuous Mining Machine Operators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $65,050 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Continuous Mining Machine Operator make in the United States?
The median Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary in the United States is $61,810 per year, or about $29.72 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $46,770, while the top 10% of earners make $86,210 or more.
How does Continuous Mining Machine Operator pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Continuous Mining Machine Operator median of $61,810 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Continuous Mining Machine Operators the most?
Minnesota is the highest-paying state for Continuous Mining Machine Operators, with a median salary of $90,820 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Continuous Mining Machine Operator?
Becoming a Continuous Mining Machine Operator typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Continuous Mining Machine Operators work in the United States?
About 14,000 people were employed as Continuous Mining Machine Operators in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.