Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (SOC 47-5044) earn a median $74,500 a year ($35.82 an hour) in the United States, with 5,930 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Wyoming.
What loading and moving machine operators, underground mining do
Loading and moving machine operators in underground mines operate loading or moving machines to load or move coal, ore or rock using shuttle cars, mine cars or conveyors. The equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines with cable-drawn scrapers or scoops, or machines with gathering arms and conveyor. Operators drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and operate controls to dump the load into mine cars or onto conveyors, and control the conveyor that runs the length of a shuttle car to distribute the load as loading progresses. They drive machines into piles of material blasted from the working face, observe hand signals, grade stakes or other markings, and examine the roadway to clear obstructions from the path of travel. Work includes handling high-voltage sources and hanging electrical cables, moving trailing cables clear of obstructions while wearing rubber safety gloves, and prying loose material off the roof with crowbars and moving it into the path of the machine. The job is separate from that of continuous mining machine operators (47-5041), who rip material from the face.
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: Buggy Driver, Buggy Man, Buggy Operator, Buggy Runner, Car Dropper.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $25.02 | $29.52 | $35.82 | $38.05 | $42.18 | $34.25 | 5,930 |
| Annual | $52,030 | $61,410 | $74,500 | $79,150 | $87,730 | $71,240 | ||
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 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining 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 | ||||||
| Wyoming | Hourly | $51.24 | $51.24 | $53.90 | $55.71 | $57.88 | $52.82 | 30 | 0.12 | 3.22 |
| Annual | $106,590 | $106,590 | $112,110 | $115,870 | $120,400 | $109,860 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $35.80 | $35.80 | $44.77 | $49.24 | $56.41 | $44.71 | 50 | 0.15 | 3.94 |
| Annual | $74,460 | $74,460 | $93,130 | $102,410 | $117,340 | $93,010 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $32.72 | $39.33 | $39.87 | $44.18 | $44.18 | $40.54 | 880 | 0.57 | 14.95 |
| Annual | $68,060 | $81,810 | $82,920 | $91,880 | $91,880 | $84,310 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $27.11 | $27.20 | $38.69 | $38.69 | $38.69 | $33.46 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $56,400 | $56,570 | $80,480 | $80,480 | $80,480 | $69,600 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $32.92 | $38.05 | $38.05 | $38.68 | $38.98 | $37.63 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $68,470 | $79,150 | $79,150 | $80,450 | $81,070 | $78,280 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| West Virginia | Hourly | $30.83 | $32.89 | $36.04 | $37.87 | $38.99 | $35.67 | 1,250 | 1.78 | 46.62 |
| Annual | $64,120 | $68,410 | $74,950 | $78,760 | $81,100 | $74,200 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $32.72 | $39.33 | $39.87 | $44.18 | $44.18 | $40.54 | 880 | 0.57 | 14.95 |
| Annual | $68,060 | $81,810 | $82,920 | $91,880 | $91,880 | $84,310 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $24.39 | $27.05 | $28.86 | $28.96 | $28.96 | $27.90 | 510 | 0.24 | 6.37 |
| Annual | $50,720 | $56,260 | $60,020 | $60,240 | $60,240 | $58,030 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $31.83 | $36.36 | $36.97 | $39.20 | $44.77 | $37.55 | 190 | 0.05 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $66,210 | $75,620 | $76,900 | $81,540 | $93,120 | $78,100 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.61 | $27.52 | $29.28 | $29.47 | $29.47 | $27.59 | 140 | 0.02 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $47,030 | $57,240 | $60,890 | $61,300 | $61,300 | $57,380 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wheeling, WV-OH | Hourly | $31.27 | $31.27 | $38.99 | $40.81 | $40.81 | $36.55 | 140 | 2.38 | 62.57 |
| Annual | $65,040 | $65,040 | $81,100 | $84,890 | $84,890 | $76,020 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $22.24 | $22.44 | $38.69 | $38.69 | $38.69 | $30.83 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $46,260 | $46,680 | $80,480 | $80,480 | $80,480 | $64,130 | ||||
| Beckley, WV | Hourly | $30.17 | $30.77 | $35.64 | $37.08 | $38.88 | $34.90 | 200 | 4.62 | 121.10 |
| Annual | $62,750 | $63,990 | $74,130 | $77,130 | $80,860 | $72,590 | ||||
| Tuscaloosa, AL | Hourly | $24.39 | $27.05 | $27.76 | $29.38 | $29.38 | $27.26 | 120 | 1.09 | 28.69 |
| Annual | $50,720 | $56,260 | $57,730 | $61,110 | $61,110 | $56,710 | ||||
| Baton Rouge, LA | Hourly | $17.76 | $18.84 | $23.03 | $25.20 | $34.17 | $23.26 | 40 | 0.09 | 2.32 |
| Annual | $36,930 | $39,190 | $47,910 | $52,420 | $71,080 | $48,380 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Beckley, WV | Hourly | $30.17 | $30.77 | $35.64 | $37.08 | $38.88 | $34.90 | 200 | 4.62 | 121.10 |
| Annual | $62,750 | $63,990 | $74,130 | $77,130 | $80,860 | $72,590 | ||||
| Wheeling, WV-OH | Hourly | $31.27 | $31.27 | $38.99 | $40.81 | $40.81 | $36.55 | 140 | 2.38 | 62.57 |
| Annual | $65,040 | $65,040 | $81,100 | $84,890 | $84,890 | $76,020 | ||||
| Tuscaloosa, AL | Hourly | $24.39 | $27.05 | $27.76 | $29.38 | $29.38 | $27.26 | 120 | 1.09 | 28.69 |
| Annual | $50,720 | $56,260 | $57,730 | $61,110 | $61,110 | $56,710 | ||||
| Baton Rouge, LA | Hourly | $17.76 | $18.84 | $23.03 | $25.20 | $34.17 | $23.26 | 40 | 0.09 | 2.32 |
| Annual | $36,930 | $39,190 | $47,910 | $52,420 | $71,080 | $48,380 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $22.24 | $22.44 | $38.69 | $38.69 | $38.69 | $30.83 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $46,260 | $46,680 | $80,480 | $80,480 | $80,480 | $64,130 | ||||
Top industries employing loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
Coal Mining employ 59.9% of loading and moving machine operators, underground mining nationally (3,550 jobs) at a median $74,650 a year ($35.89 an hour), followed by Metal Ore Mining (16.5%) and Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (15.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal Mining NAICS 212100 | 3,550 | 59.9% | $74,650 | $35.89 |
| Metal Ore Mining NAICS 212200 | 980 | 16.5% | $82,920 | $39.87 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying NAICS 212300 | 930 | 15.7% | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| Support Activities for Mining NAICS 213100 | 130 | 2.2% | $74,460 | $35.80 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing NAICS 327000 | 80 | 1.3% | $47,520 | $22.85 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (5,930). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $57,900 for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining in May 2021 and $74,500 in May 2025, with employment of 4,450 and 5,930.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $57,900 | $27.84 | 4,450 |
| May 2022 | $63,920 | $30.73 | 5,210 |
| May 2023 | $64,070 | $30.81 | 5,160 |
| May 2024 | $68,860 | $33.11 | 6,130 |
| May 2025 | $74,500 | $35.82 | 5,930 |
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
20 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 | Wyoming profile | $53.90 | $112,110 | $106,590 | $120,400 | 30 | 0.12 | 3.22 |
| 2 | Alaska profile | $44.77 | $93,130 | $74,460 | $117,340 | 50 | 0.15 | 3.94 |
| 3 | Nevada profile | $39.87 | $82,920 | $68,060 | $91,880 | 880 | 0.57 | 14.95 |
| 4 | South Carolina profile | $38.69 | $80,480 | $56,400 | $80,480 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.36 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $38.05 | $79,150 | $68,470 | $81,070 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.61 |
| 6 | Virginia profile | $36.97 | $76,900 | $66,210 | $93,120 | 190 | 0.05 | 1.21 |
| 7 | Illinois profile | $36.48 | $75,890 | $65,630 | $87,210 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.40 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania profile | $36.17 | $75,240 | $67,100 | $78,190 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | West Virginia profile | $36.04 | $74,950 | $64,120 | $81,100 | 1,250 | 1.78 | 46.62 |
| 10 | Arizona profile | $34.82 | $72,430 | $57,850 | $79,260 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.80 |
| 11 | Ohio profile | $34.32 | $71,380 | $41,100 | $97,280 | 130 | 0.02 | 0.62 |
| 12 | New York profile | $29.28 | $60,890 | $47,030 | $61,300 | 140 | 0.02 | 0.39 |
| 13 | Alabama profile | $28.86 | $60,020 | $50,720 | $60,240 | 510 | 0.24 | 6.37 |
| 14 | Michigan profile | $28.52 | $59,310 | $47,260 | $70,920 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.50 |
| 15 | Missouri profile | $25.02 | $52,040 | $39,160 | $58,120 | 100 | 0.04 | 0.94 |
| 16 | Georgia profile | $24.22 | $50,380 | $37,760 | $64,210 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.53 |
| 17 | Louisiana profile | $23.40 | $48,670 | $36,930 | $72,360 | 110 | 0.06 | 1.50 |
| 18 | Iowa profile | $23.31 | $48,490 | $46,560 | $59,260 | 100 | 0.07 | 1.76 |
| 19 | Texas profile | $22.75 | $47,310 | $40,220 | $80,720 | 70 | 0.01 | 0.13 |
| 20 | Oklahoma profile | $21.52 | $44,760 | $33,440 | $73,160 | 70 | 0.04 | 1.09 |
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 47-5044 Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- 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 47-5044, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-5044.00, 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.