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

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

Median annual salary $50,900 -3.1% vs national
Median hourly $24.47
10th percentile $41,160
90th percentile $80,070
Employed locally 280
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
    $41,160
    25th
    $44,090
    50th (median)
    $50,900
    75th
    $64,930
    90th
    $80,070

    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 Virginia

    OccupationMedian salary
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$65,560
    Construction Laborers$38,020
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$52,100
    Carpenters$45,080
    Highway Maintenance Workers$47,480
    Electricians$66,690

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Southwest Virginia is $24.47, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.67 or more per hour.

    Is Southwest Virginia 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 Virginia is 3.1% below 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 Virginia?

    Entry-level Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (10th percentile) earn around $41,160 per year in Southwest Virginia. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,090.