Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Southwest Minnesota

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $55,220 +5.1% vs national
Median hourly $26.55
10th percentile $47,110
90th percentile $73,000
Employed locally 50
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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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,110
    25th
    $47,980
    50th (median)
    $55,220
    75th
    $70,650
    90th
    $73,000

    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 Southwest Minnesota

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $50,340
    Carpenters $48,590
    Electricians $66,890
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $81,970
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $63,130
    Highway Maintenance Workers $60,900

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Southwest Minnesota is $26.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.10 or more per hour.

    Is Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota is 5.1% 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 Southwest Minnesota?

    Entry-level Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (10th percentile) earn around $47,110 per year in Southwest Minnesota. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,980.