Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
SOC 47-5044BLS OEWS May 2025
Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.
National median · BLS
$74,500
▲ +8.19%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$71,240
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
5,930
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground 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
$52,030
25th
$61,410
Median (50th)
$74,500
75th
$79,150
90th — top pay
$87,730
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
BLS projects employment of loading and moving machine operators, underground mining to decline 15.8% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 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
5,900 → 5,000
-900 jobs
Projected change
-15.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salaries by metro area
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Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground 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 Control3.4
Operations Monitoring3.3
Troubleshooting3.1
Active Listening3.0
Coordination3.0
Critical Thinking3.0
Equipment Maintenance3.0
Speaking3.0
Monitoring2.9
Reading Comprehension2.9
Top knowledge areas
Mechanical3.3
Education and Training3.0
Law and Government2.8
English Language2.8
Production and Processing2.8
Public Safety and Security2.6
Transportation2.5
Administration and Management2.5
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsAutomated systems softwareInventory management systemsMaintenance management softwareMine maintenance softwareWork time accounting software
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 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining do
Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.
Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.
Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.
Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.
Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses.
Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines.
Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel.
Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces.
Also called
Load Haul Dump Operator (LHD Operator)Loader OperatorLoading Machine OperatorShuttle Car OperatorCoal Hauler OperatorEquipment OperatorMiner OperatorProduction MinerRam Car OperatorUnderground Miner
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.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $74,500.
