Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$106,220
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$51.07
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$169,990
entry level starts ~$67,490
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 6,000 employed

How much do Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers make?

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers earn a median annual salary of $106,220 in the United States, which works out to roughly $51.07 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $67,490 at the entry level and $169,990 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $85,280 and $136,590 a year.

That is $44,830 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salary range by percentile

Half of all Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers earn between $85,280 and $136,590 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$67,490$32.45
25th percentile (early career)$85,280$41.00
50th percentile (median)$106,220$51.07
75th percentile (experienced)$136,590$65.67
90th percentile (top earners)$169,990$81.73

Highest-paying states for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers pay at $158,130 a year, followed by Oklahoma ($131,660) and Utah ($125,520). At the other end, North Carolina posts the lowest median at $70,310 — a gap of $87,820 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$158,130$76.02+49%
2Oklahoma$131,660$63.30+24%
3Utah$125,520$60.35+18%
4Alaska$124,630$59.92+17%
5Idaho$123,680$59.46+16%

Workforce and education

About 6,000 people work as Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $115,410 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers make in the United States?
The median Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salary in the United States is $106,220 per year, or about $51.07 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $67,490, while the top 10% of earners make $169,990 or more.
How does Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers median of $106,220 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers, with a median salary of $158,130 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers work in the United States?
About 6,000 people were employed as Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other engineering roles with similar pay.

Chemical Engineer

$125,040
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Aerospace Engineer

$134,960
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Electrical Engineer

$120,630
median pay · 199,000 employed

Industrial Engineer

$102,440
median pay · 366,000 employed
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.