Occupation salary profile

Roof Bolters, Mining

SOC 47-5043 BLS OEWS May 2025

Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.

National median · BLS
$78,540
▲ +2.48% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$78,100
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
2,160
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Roof Bolters, Mining

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

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$63,750
25th$71,390
Median (50th)$78,540
75th$81,860
90th — top pay$92,830

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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

Job outlook for Roof Bolters, Mining

BLS projects employment of roof bolters, mining to decline 18.9% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 100 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
2,200 → 1,800
-400 jobs
Projected change
-18.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
100
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
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-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

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

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Roof Bolters, Mining

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 Control3.6
  • Critical Thinking3.4
  • Monitoring3.3
  • Operations Monitoring3.3
  • Troubleshooting3.3
  • Active Listening3.1
  • Equipment Maintenance3.1
  • Complex Problem Solving3.0
  • Coordination3.0
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Production and Processing3.7
  • Education and Training3.5
  • Mechanical3.5
  • Public Safety and Security3.5
  • Administration and Management3.0
  • Law and Government3.0
  • English Language2.6
  • Customer and Personal Service2.5
Software and technology used
Caterpillar Cat MineStar SystemCaterpillar Command

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 roof bolters, mining do

  • Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.
  • Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported.
  • Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks.
  • Perform safety checks on equipment before operating.
  • Perform tests to determine if methane gas is present.
  • Force bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines.
  • Perform ventilation tasks, such as hanging ventilation curtains and tubes.
  • Dust rocks after bolting.
Also called
BolterRoof BolterRoof Bolter OperatorUnderground Roof BolterBolt Machine OperatorBolt ManMinerPlace Change Roof BolterUnderground Miner
More job titles for this occupation (5)
Bolting InspectorBolting Machine OperatorRoof Bolting Coal MinerTruss AssemblerUnderground Bolting Machine 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.