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

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

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Texas Median
$49,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.56
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-15% vs US median
US median $57,430
State Rank
#41 of 49
5,030 employed here

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

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining working in Texas earn a median salary of $49,000 per year, or about $23.56 per hour. That is 15% below the national median of $57,430 for this occupation.

Within Texas, entry-level pay starts around $38,760 while the top 10% make $67,560 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $43,920 and $59,210 a year.

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

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$38,760$18.63
25th percentile (early career)$43,920$21.12
50th percentile (median)$49,000$23.56
75th percentile (experienced)$59,210$28.47
90th percentile (top earners)$67,560$32.48

How Texas compares

Texas ranks 41st 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 Texas

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 Texas pay ($49,000) 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 Texas?
The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Texas is $49,000 per year, or about $23.56 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $38,760 at the entry level to $67,560 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Texas pay compare to the national average?
Texas pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining about 15% less than the national median of $57,430. Texas ranks 41st out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Texas a good state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $49,000 a year. About 5,030 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining are employed in Texas. 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 Texas?
The highest-paying occupations in Texas include Cardiologist ($410,150), Neurologist ($360,640), Physician, Pathologists ($345,830), 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.