Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Continuous Mining Machine Operators (SOC 47-5041) earn a median $61,810 a year ($29.72 an hour) in the United States, with 14,000 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Minnesota.
What continuous mining machine operators do
Continuous mining machine operators run self-propelled machines that cut coal, ores, rock, stone or sand out of the mine face, loading it without pausing onto conveyors, shuttle cars or trucks. Before mining they hang ventilation tubing and curtains to keep the face area properly ventilated, conduct methane gas checks to confirm the air is fit to breathe, and check the stability of the roof and rib support systems. The operator drives the machine into position at the working face, operates the machine to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars, and moves controls to start and regulate conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches. The machine is repositioned to make additional holes or cuts, and the locations, boundaries and depths of holes or channels to be cut are determined beforehand. Continuous miner operator and bore miner operator are among the listed titles.
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Bore Miner Operator, Bulldozer Operator, Concrete Crusher Loader Operator, Continuous Miner, Continuous Miner Operator (CMO).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.49 | $24.81 | $29.72 | $37.29 | $41.45 | $31.27 | 14,000 |
| Annual | $46,770 | $51,610 | $61,810 | $77,570 | $86,210 | $65,050 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where continuous mining machine operators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $28.67 | $30.98 | $43.66 | $48.01 | $49.45 | $40.28 | 420 | 0.14 | 1.58 |
| Annual | $59,640 | $64,440 | $90,820 | $99,850 | $102,850 | $83,780 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $33.50 | $38.94 | $41.15 | $41.87 | $43.85 | $40.14 | 1,110 | 0.72 | 7.95 |
| Annual | $69,680 | $80,990 | $85,590 | $87,090 | $91,210 | $83,490 | ||||
| Wyoming | Hourly | $29.10 | $40.99 | $40.99 | $55.07 | $55.07 | $45.50 | 330 | 1.17 | 13.03 |
| Annual | $60,520 | $85,260 | $85,260 | $114,540 | $114,540 | $94,630 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $35.16 | $38.96 | $38.99 | $38.99 | $38.99 | $39.00 | 290 | 0.10 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $73,130 | $81,040 | $81,110 | $81,110 | $81,110 | $81,120 | ||||
| West Virginia | Hourly | $28.77 | $30.90 | $37.29 | $39.29 | $43.60 | $35.11 | 720 | 1.03 | 11.45 |
| Annual | $59,840 | $64,270 | $77,570 | $81,720 | $90,690 | $73,030 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $23.65 | $28.99 | $29.27 | $34.29 | $37.82 | $30.47 | 2,850 | 0.88 | 9.76 |
| Annual | $49,180 | $60,300 | $60,880 | $71,330 | $78,660 | $63,380 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $33.50 | $38.94 | $41.15 | $41.87 | $43.85 | $40.14 | 1,110 | 0.72 | 7.95 |
| Annual | $69,680 | $80,990 | $85,590 | $87,090 | $91,210 | $83,490 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $27.09 | $29.93 | $30.19 | $37.90 | $39.55 | $33.29 | 940 | 0.05 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $56,340 | $62,240 | $62,790 | $78,830 | $82,250 | $69,250 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $17.46 | $20.62 | $22.73 | $29.51 | $36.06 | $24.98 | 920 | 0.31 | 3.47 |
| Annual | $36,310 | $42,900 | $47,280 | $61,390 | $75,000 | $51,950 | ||||
| Utah | Hourly | $23.69 | $23.78 | $28.57 | $35.34 | $37.30 | $30.82 | 890 | 0.52 | 5.72 |
| Annual | $49,280 | $49,460 | $59,420 | $73,510 | $77,580 | $64,100 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Duluth, MN-WI | Hourly | $29.99 | $41.45 | $41.46 | $41.51 | $45.61 | $40.35 | 50 | 0.38 | 4.20 |
| Annual | $62,390 | $86,210 | $86,230 | $86,340 | $94,880 | $83,930 | ||||
| Wheeling, WV-OH | Hourly | $28.77 | $31.80 | $31.87 | $38.59 | $41.41 | $33.45 | 120 | 2.12 | 23.52 |
| Annual | $59,840 | $66,150 | $66,300 | $80,270 | $86,130 | $69,580 | ||||
| Charleston, WV | Hourly | $23.59 | $30.36 | $31.39 | $40.16 | $40.33 | $33.44 | 70 | 0.69 | 7.69 |
| Annual | $49,070 | $63,150 | $65,280 | $83,540 | $83,880 | $69,560 | ||||
| Beckley, WV | Hourly | $29.67 | $30.90 | $30.90 | $39.96 | $39.96 | $34.40 | 120 | 2.89 | 32.05 |
| Annual | $61,710 | $64,270 | $64,270 | $83,110 | $83,110 | $71,550 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $25.37 | $30.23 | $30.41 | $37.41 | $42.44 | $32.16 | 710 | 0.30 | 3.33 |
| Annual | $52,770 | $62,890 | $63,250 | $77,800 | $88,270 | $66,890 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tucson, AZ | Hourly | $23.90 | $28.94 | $29.27 | $35.05 | $35.79 | $29.89 | 720 | 1.85 | 20.51 |
| Annual | $49,700 | $60,190 | $60,880 | $72,900 | $74,450 | $62,170 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $25.37 | $30.23 | $30.41 | $37.41 | $42.44 | $32.16 | 710 | 0.30 | 3.33 |
| Annual | $52,770 | $62,890 | $63,250 | $77,800 | $88,270 | $66,890 | ||||
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | Hourly | $23.78 | $23.78 | $27.84 | $32.05 | $36.74 | $28.64 | 380 | 0.46 | 5.06 |
| Annual | $49,460 | $49,460 | $57,900 | $66,660 | $76,410 | $59,570 | ||||
| Pittsburgh, PA | Hourly | $23.73 | $24.35 | $29.22 | $29.22 | $29.22 | $27.82 | 140 | 0.13 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $49,360 | $50,650 | $60,780 | $60,780 | $60,780 | $57,860 | ||||
| Beckley, WV | Hourly | $29.67 | $30.90 | $30.90 | $39.96 | $39.96 | $34.40 | 120 | 2.89 | 32.05 |
| Annual | $61,710 | $64,270 | $64,270 | $83,110 | $83,110 | $71,550 | ||||
Top industries employing continuous mining machine operators
Metal Ore Mining employ 42.6% of continuous mining machine operators nationally (5,970 jobs) at a median $62,360 a year ($29.98 an hour), followed by Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (31.3%) and Coal Mining (15.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Ore Mining NAICS 212200 | 5,970 | 42.6% | $62,360 | $29.98 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying NAICS 212300 | 4,380 | 31.3% | $57,730 | $27.76 |
| Coal Mining NAICS 212100 | 2,200 | 15.7% | $73,970 | $35.56 |
| Support Activities for Mining NAICS 213100 | 670 | 4.8% | $62,250 | $29.93 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing NAICS 327000 | 90 | 0.6% | $58,230 | $27.99 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (14,000). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,300 for continuous mining machine operators in May 2021 and $61,810 in May 2025, with employment of 14,740 and 14,000.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,300 | $28.99 | 14,740 |
| May 2022 | $57,360 | $27.58 | 13,500 |
| May 2023 | $61,420 | $29.53 | 15,700 |
| May 2024 | $63,380 | $30.47 | 14,340 |
| May 2025 | $61,810 | $29.72 | 14,000 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
27 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota profile | $43.66 | $90,820 | $59,640 | $102,850 | 420 | 0.14 | 1.58 |
| 2 | Nevada profile | $41.15 | $85,590 | $69,680 | $91,210 | 1,110 | 0.72 | 7.95 |
| 3 | Wyoming profile | $40.99 | $85,260 | $60,520 | $114,540 | 330 | 1.17 | 13.03 |
| 4 | Colorado profile | $38.99 | $81,110 | $73,130 | $81,110 | 290 | 0.10 | 1.14 |
| 5 | West Virginia profile | $37.29 | $77,570 | $59,840 | $90,690 | 720 | 1.03 | 11.45 |
| 6 | Illinois profile | $35.98 | $74,830 | $47,490 | $79,280 | 230 | 0.04 | 0.42 |
| 7 | Indiana profile | $34.41 | $71,570 | $65,850 | $75,520 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| 8 | Virginia profile | $30.52 | $63,480 | $48,860 | $79,270 | 230 | 0.06 | 0.63 |
| 9 | California profile | $30.19 | $62,790 | $56,340 | $82,250 | 940 | 0.05 | 0.57 |
| 10 | Florida profile | $30.09 | $62,580 | $40,540 | $67,340 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.25 |
| 11 | Idaho profile | $29.32 | $60,990 | $49,550 | $84,180 | 70 | 0.08 | 0.91 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $29.27 | $60,880 | $49,180 | $78,660 | 2,850 | 0.88 | 9.76 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania profile | $29.22 | $60,780 | $49,360 | $63,200 | 510 | 0.08 | 0.93 |
| 14 | Utah profile | $28.57 | $59,420 | $49,280 | $77,580 | 890 | 0.52 | 5.72 |
| 15 | Alabama profile | $28.54 | $59,360 | $56,820 | $62,140 | 340 | 0.16 | 1.81 |
| 16 | North Carolina profile | $28.38 | $59,030 | $55,790 | $61,480 | 230 | 0.05 | 0.52 |
| 17 | Ohio profile | $27.90 | $58,030 | $46,800 | $76,370 | 260 | 0.05 | 0.51 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $27.77 | $57,760 | $49,080 | $79,110 | 180 | 0.04 | 0.45 |
| 19 | Georgia profile | $27.48 | $57,160 | $46,790 | $64,870 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.32 |
| 20 | Nebraska profile | $24.88 | $51,760 | $49,120 | $64,950 | 70 | 0.07 | 0.79 |
| 21 | Kentucky profile | $24.05 | $50,020 | $48,950 | $68,260 | 390 | 0.20 | 2.18 |
| 22 | Texas profile | $23.53 | $48,950 | $24,020 | $63,470 | 390 | 0.03 | 0.31 |
| 23 | New Mexico profile | $23.51 | $48,900 | $38,630 | $61,850 | 470 | 0.55 | 6.06 |
| 24 | Arkansas profile | $23.03 | $47,890 | $33,760 | $66,560 | 80 | 0.06 | 0.68 |
| 25 | Missouri profile | $22.73 | $47,280 | $36,310 | $75,000 | 920 | 0.31 | 3.47 |
| 26 | Oklahoma profile | $22.59 | $46,980 | $39,520 | $57,480 | 310 | 0.18 | 2.04 |
| 27 | New York profile | $22.33 | $46,450 | $38,400 | $63,450 | 180 | 0.02 | 0.21 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-5040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-5041 Continuous Mining Machine Operators.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-5041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-5041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.