How much does an excavating and loading machine and dragline operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $27.61 an hour or $4,786 a month.
- Hourly
- $27.61
- Average (mean)
- $59,930
- Jobs
- 34,480
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,600 | $20.00 | |
| 25th | $47,890 | $23.02 | |
| Median | $57,430 | $27.61 | |
| 75th | $65,730 | $31.60 | |
| 90th | $82,400 | $39.62 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| North Dakota | $90,380 |
| Illinois | $80,600 |
| New Jersey | $80,310 |
| Wyoming | $78,230 |
| New Mexico | $76,350 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 |
| Alaska | $74,680 |
| California | $74,500 |
| Montana | $65,850 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 |
| Washington | $64,270 |
| Nevada | $63,810 |
| Indiana | $61,910 |
| West Virginia | $61,330 |
| Oregon | $61,280 |
| Minnesota | $61,260 |
| Colorado | $61,020 |
| Arizona | $60,310 |
| Vermont | $59,790 |
| Rhode Island | $59,590 |
| Virginia | $59,480 |
| Iowa | $59,390 |
| Michigan | $59,040 |
| Idaho | $58,670 |
| North Carolina | $58,620 |
| New Hampshire | $58,540 |
| Nebraska | $58,370 |
| Wisconsin | $58,280 |
| Ohio | $58,240 |
| New York | $58,120 |
| Maryland | $57,610 |
| Missouri | $56,760 |
| Maine | $55,890 |
| Utah | $54,330 |
| Louisiana | $53,510 |
| South Carolina | $52,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,350 |
| Florida | $51,990 |
| Georgia | $50,290 |
| Tennessee | $49,500 |
| Texas | $49,000 |
| Kansas | $48,950 |
| Mississippi | $48,490 |
| South Dakota | $48,250 |
| Kentucky | $47,780 |
| Alabama | $47,770 |
| Oklahoma | $47,100 |
| Delaware | $46,900 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Sacramento, CA | $143,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $122,400 |
| New York, NY | $94,960 |
| Chicago, IL | $87,060 |
| Farmington, NM | $85,880 |
| San Jose, CA | $82,560 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $81,180 |
| Boston, MA | $76,110 |
| College Station, TX | $75,440 |
| New Haven, CT | $75,110 |
| Fresno, CA | $74,390 |
| Worcester, MA | $73,780 |
| Seattle, WA | $73,300 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $71,300 |
| Riverside, CA | $69,240 |
In other countries
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator belongs to the international group "Miners and quarriers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Derrick Operator$58,620
- Rotary Drill Operator$67,890
- Service Unit Operator$58,160
- Earth Driller$60,190
- Explosives Worker$61,390
- Continuous Mining Machine Operator$61,810
- Roof Bolter$78,540
- Loading and Moving Machine Operator$74,500
- Underground Mining Machine Operator$70,130
- Rock Splitter$48,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does an excavating and loading machine and dragline operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $27.61 ($57,430 a year).
How much does an excavating and loading machine and dragline operator make a month?
About $4,786 a month before tax, based on a median of $57,430 a year.
How much does an excavating and loading machine and dragline operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $41,600 or less a year ($20.00 an hour); the top 10% make $82,400 or more.
Which state pays excavating and loading machine and dragline operators the most?
North Dakota, with a median of $90,380 a year, followed by Illinois ($80,600) and New Jersey ($80,310).
Which city pays excavating and loading machine and dragline operators the most?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA, with a median of $143,000 a year.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators are there in the United States?
About 34,480 people work as excavating and loading machine and dragline operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.