Occupation salary profile

Continuous Mining Machine Operators

SOC 47-5041 BLS OEWS May 2025

Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, shuttle cars, or trucks in a continuous operation.

National median · BLS
$61,810
▼ -2.48% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$65,050
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
14,000
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Continuous Mining Machine Operators

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$46,770
25th$51,610
Median (50th)$61,810
75th$77,570
90th — top pay$86,210

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Continuous Mining Machine Operators

BLS projects employment of continuous mining machine operators to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
14,000 → 14,400
+400 jobs
Projected change
+3.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need no formal education →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Continuous Mining Machine Operators

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operation and Control3.9
  • Operations Monitoring3.9
  • Equipment Maintenance3.4
  • Critical Thinking3.3
  • Troubleshooting3.3
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.1
  • Repairing3.1
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Complex Problem Solving3.0
  • Monitoring3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Mechanical3.9
  • Production and Processing3.7
  • Law and Government3.4
  • Education and Training3.3
  • English Language2.8
  • Administration and Management2.8
  • Transportation2.7
  • Public Safety and Security2.7
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordFleet monitoring system softwareHitachi ZXLinkLeica Geosystems FMSMinitab

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What continuous mining machine operators do

  • Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.
  • Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.
  • Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.
  • Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
  • Drive machines into position at working faces.
  • Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.
  • Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
  • Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
Also called
Continuous Miner Operator (CMO)Continuous Mining Machine OperatorContinuous Mining Operator (CMO)Miner OperatorBore Miner OperatorContinuous MinerHeavy Equipment OperatorLoader OperatorMine TechnicianMine Utility Operator
More job titles for this occupation (25)
Bulldozer OperatorConcrete Crusher Loader OperatorContinuous Mining Machine Coal MinerContinuous Mining Machine Company MinerContinuous Mining Machine Contract MinerContinuous Mining Machine Lode MinerContinuous Mining Machine MinerCrusher Loader Equipment OperatorCrusher Loader OperatorCrusher OperatorCrusher Plant OperatorDozer OperatorEquipment OperatorExcavator OperatorForklift OperatorForklift Wheel LoaderFront End Wheel Loader OperatorLogging Shovel OperatorMaterial Equipment OperatorMinerQuarry Plant Crusher OperatorSelf-Propelled Mining Machine OperatorShovel Log Loader OperatorShovel OperatorWheel Loader Operator

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.