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

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

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
North Carolina Median
$58,620
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.18
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+2% vs US median
US median $57,430
State Rank
#25 of 49
state estimate

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

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining working in North Carolina earn a median salary of $58,620 per year, or about $28.18 per hour. That is 2% above the national median of $57,430 for this occupation.

Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $46,780 while the top 10% make $64,020 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,360 and $60,460 a year.

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

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$46,780$22.49
25th percentile (early career)$49,360$23.73
50th percentile (median)$58,620$28.18
75th percentile (experienced)$60,460$29.07
90th percentile (top earners)$64,020$30.78

How North Carolina compares

North Carolina ranks 25th 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 North Carolina

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 North Carolina pay ($58,620) 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 North Carolina?
The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in North Carolina is $58,620 per year, or about $28.18 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $46,780 at the entry level to $64,020 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining about 2% more than the national median of $57,430. North Carolina ranks 25th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
Yes on pay — North Carolina pays above the national median for this occupation, at $58,620 a year. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), 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.