Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in South Illinois

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • South Illinois nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $69,580 +32.4% vs national
Median hourly $33.45
10th percentile $46,740
90th percentile $85,100
Employed locally 130
National median $52,550

Compare Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary & buying power

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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
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South Illinois
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,740
    25th
    $49,570
    50th (median)
    $69,580
    75th
    $81,340
    90th
    $85,100

    Top-paying metros for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $139,310
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,790
    West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area $111,600
    New Jersey $105,490
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $95,260
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $94,470

    Related occupations in South Illinois

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $60,650
    Highway Maintenance Workers $57,590
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $90,960
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $78,770
    Electricians $94,110
    Carpenters $67,000

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make per hour in South Illinois?

    The median hourly wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in South Illinois is $33.45, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.70 or more per hour.

    Is South Illinois above or below average for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salaries?

    The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in South Illinois is 32.4% above the national median of $52,550. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in South Illinois?

    Entry-level Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (10th percentile) earn around $46,740 per year in South Illinois. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,570.