Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$74,500
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$35.82
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$87,730
entry level starts ~$52,030
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 6,000 employed

How much do Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining make?

The median pay for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in the United States is $74,500 per year — about $35.82 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $52,030, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $87,730.

That is $13,110 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salary range by percentile

Half of all Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining earn between $61,410 and $79,150 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$52,030$25.01
25th percentile (early career)$61,410$29.52
50th percentile (median)$74,500$35.82
75th percentile (experienced)$79,150$38.05
90th percentile (top earners)$87,730$42.18

Highest-paying states for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Wyoming leads the country for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining pay at $112,110 a year, followed by Alaska ($93,130) and Nevada ($82,920). At the other end, Oklahoma posts the lowest median at $44,760 — a gap of $67,350 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Wyoming$112,110$53.90+50%
2Alaska$93,130$44.77+25%
3Nevada$82,920$39.87+11%
4South Carolina$80,480$38.69+8%
5Colorado$79,150$38.05+6%

Workforce and education

About 6,000 people work as Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $71,240 — below the median, unusual for salaried roles. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining make in the United States?
The median Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salary in the United States is $74,500 per year, or about $35.82 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $52,030, while the top 10% of earners make $87,730 or more.
How does Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining median of $74,500 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining the most?
Wyoming is the highest-paying state for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining, with a median salary of $112,110 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining work in the United States?
About 6,000 people were employed as Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.