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Occupational Employment Statistics


DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

47-5022 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining



Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.

Geography Click link for Career Profile EmploymentEmp SE*Percentiles
Mean10th25thMedian75th90th
Northwest Minnesota 7012$29.81/hr$23.59/hr$23.76/hr$28.71/hr$36.44/hr$36.53/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and Mining560$35.77/hr
Construction180$45.76/hr
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Southeast Minnesota N/AN/A0.0%
Duluth MN-WI MSA N/AN/AN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Rochester MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
St Cloud MN MSA N/AN/AN/A
Northwest Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Northeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Southeast Balance of State N/AN/AN/A
Southwest Balance of State 50$27.05/hrN/A
Northwest Minnesota 70$28.71/hr0.0%
Southwest Minnesota 70$28.81/hr1.1%
Northeast Minnesota 90$39.87/hr3.5%
Central Minnesota 170$31.63/hr2.2%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 280$39.11/hr4.9%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 390$39.11/hrN/A
Minnesota 740$38.73/hr3.1%


Occupations Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 8,290$38.50/hr9.9%
Crane and Tower Operators 170$32.79/hr3.7%
Hoist and Winch Operators 70$32.00/hr-12.5%
Helpers--Extraction Workers N/AN/AN/A
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators 430$23.75/hr3.6%
Logging Equipment Operators 340$24.06/hr-3.5%
Continuous Mining Machine Operators N/A$33.51/hrN/A
Structural Iron and Steel Workers 850$45.68/hr6.4%
Sailors and Marine Oilers 50$26.19/hr6.7%
Construction Laborers 27,510$28.77/hr8.3%


  • Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
  • Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
  • Lubricate, adjust, or repair machinery and replace parts, such as gears, bearings, or bucket teeth.
  • Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
  • Direct ground workers engaged in activities such as moving stakes or markers, or changing positions of towers.
  • Adjust dig face angles for varying overburden depths and set lengths.
  • Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
  • Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and with efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
  • Drive machines to work sites.
  • Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.