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

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

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Louisiana Median
$53,510
per year
Hourly Rate
$25.73
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $57,430
State Rank
#35 of 49
280 employed here

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

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining working in Louisiana earn a median salary of $53,510 per year, or about $25.73 per hour. That is 7% below the national median of $57,430 for this occupation.

Within Louisiana, entry-level pay starts around $23,660 while the top 10% make $64,120 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $39,500 and $58,220 a year.

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

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$23,660$11.38
25th percentile (early career)$39,500$18.99
50th percentile (median)$53,510$25.73
75th percentile (experienced)$58,220$27.99
90th percentile (top earners)$64,120$30.83

How Louisiana compares

Louisiana ranks 35th 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 Louisiana

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 Louisiana pay ($53,510) 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 Louisiana?
The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Louisiana is $53,510 per year, or about $25.73 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $23,660 at the entry level to $64,120 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Louisiana pay compare to the national average?
Louisiana pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining about 7% less than the national median of $57,430. Louisiana ranks 35th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Louisiana a good state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $53,510 a year. About 280 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining are employed in Louisiana. 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 Louisiana?
The highest-paying occupations in Louisiana include Pediatrician, General ($502,720), Anesthesiologist ($410,500), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($404,550), 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.