Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Western North Carolina

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $46,020 -12.4% vs national
Median hourly $22.12
10th percentile $35,130
90th percentile $58,440
Employed locally 80
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
in
Western North Carolina
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,130
    25th
    $36,690
    50th (median)
    $46,020
    75th
    $54,450
    90th
    $58,440

    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 Western North Carolina

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $40,600
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $65,920
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $46,970
    Carpenters $40,760
    Electricians $50,180
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $47,290

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make per hour in Western North Carolina?

    The median hourly wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Western North Carolina is $22.12, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.40 or more per hour.

    Is Western North Carolina 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 Western North Carolina is 12.4% 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 Western North Carolina?

    Entry-level Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (10th percentile) earn around $35,130 per year in Western North Carolina. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,690.