Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Alabama (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Alabama, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Alabama Median
$47,770
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.97
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-17% vs US median
US median $57,430
State Rank
#46 of 49
410 employed here

How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make in Alabama?

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Alabama take home a median of $47,770 annually — roughly $22.97 an hour — which runs 17% below the national median of $57,430.

Within Alabama, entry-level pay starts around $36,770 while the top 10% make $59,000 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,170 and $52,350 a year.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary range in Alabama

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$36,770$17.68
25th percentile (early career)$40,170$19.31
50th percentile (median)$47,770$22.97
75th percentile (experienced)$52,350$25.17
90th percentile (top earners)$59,000$28.37

How Alabama compares

Alabama ranks 46th out of 49 states and territories for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1North Dakota$90,380
2Illinois$80,600
3New Jersey$80,310
4Wyoming$78,230
5New Mexico$76,350

Working as Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Alabama

Nationally, about 34,000 people work as Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare Alabama pay ($47,770) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make in Alabama?
The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Alabama is $47,770 per year, or about $22.97 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,770 at the entry level to $59,000 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Alabama pay compare to the national average?
Alabama pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining about 17% less than the national median of $57,430. Alabama ranks 46th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Alabama a good state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $47,770 a year. About 410 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining are employed in Alabama. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Alabama?
The highest-paying occupations in Alabama include Cardiologist ($519,480), Dermatologist ($394,550), Anesthesiologist ($392,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary report

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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). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.