Kentucky Median
$47,780
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.97
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-17% vs US median
US median $57,430
State Rank
#45 of 49
790 employed here
How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make in Kentucky?
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Kentucky take home a median of $47,780 annually — roughly $22.97 an hour — which runs 17% below the national median of $57,430.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $37,210 while the top 10% make $68,390 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,450 and $57,680 a year.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,210 | $17.89 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $40,450 | $19.45 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $47,780 | $22.97 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $57,680 | $27.73 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,390 | $32.88 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 45th out of 49 states and territories for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in other states
North Dakota $90,380Illinois $80,600New Jersey $80,310Wyoming $78,230New Mexico $76,350Massachusetts $76,070Alaska $74,680California $74,500Montana $65,850Connecticut $65,710Washington $64,270Nevada $63,810Indiana $61,910West Virginia $61,330Oregon $61,280Minnesota $61,260Colorado $61,020Arizona $60,310Vermont $59,790Rhode Island $59,590Virginia $59,480Iowa $59,390Michigan $59,040Idaho $58,670North Carolina $58,620New Hampshire $58,540Nebraska $58,370Wisconsin $58,280Ohio $58,240New York $58,120Maryland $57,610Missouri $56,760Maine $55,890Utah $54,330Louisiana $53,510South Carolina $52,580Pennsylvania $52,350Florida $51,990Georgia $50,290Tennessee $49,500Texas $49,000Kansas $48,950Mississippi $48,490South Dakota $48,250Alabama $47,770Oklahoma $47,100Delaware $46,900Arkansas $46,170
Working as Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Kentucky
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 Kentucky pay ($47,780) 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 Kentucky?
The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Kentucky is $47,780 per year, or about $22.97 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,210 at the entry level to $68,390 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining about 17% less than the national median of $57,430. Kentucky ranks 45th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $47,780 a year. About 790 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining are employed in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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.