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

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

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Pennsylvania Median
$52,350
per year
Hourly Rate
$25.17
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-9% vs US median
US median $57,430
State Rank
#37 of 49
1,520 employed here

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

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Pennsylvania take home a median of $52,350 annually — roughly $25.17 an hour — which runs 9% below the national median of $57,430.

Within Pennsylvania, entry-level pay starts around $45,800 while the top 10% make $60,220 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,000 and $58,070 a year.

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

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$45,800$22.02
25th percentile (early career)$49,000$23.56
50th percentile (median)$52,350$25.17
75th percentile (experienced)$58,070$27.92
90th percentile (top earners)$60,220$28.95

How Pennsylvania compares

Pennsylvania ranks 37th 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 Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania pay ($52,350) 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 Pennsylvania?
The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Pennsylvania is $52,350 per year, or about $25.17 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $45,800 at the entry level to $60,220 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Pennsylvania pay compare to the national average?
Pennsylvania pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining about 9% less than the national median of $57,430. Pennsylvania ranks 37th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Pennsylvania a good state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $52,350 a year. About 1,520 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining are employed in Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania?
The highest-paying occupations in Pennsylvania include Cardiologist ($579,120), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons ($553,740), Anesthesiologist ($461,390), 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.