Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-5044 · O*NET 47-5044.00
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.
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining fall under the Construction and Extraction category in the U.S. occupational classification. Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining earn a median salary of $68,860 per year, ranking in the top 34% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -22.3% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do loading and moving machine operators, underground mining earn?
The median annual wage for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining is $68,860. That puts loading and moving machine operators, underground mining at #273 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $48,310 |
| 25th percentile | $59,130 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $68,860 |
| 75th percentile | $76,820 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,900 |
| Median hourly wage | $33.11/hr |
Is loading and moving machine operators, underground mining a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining is -22.3%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 6K positions in 2024 to 5K in 2034, a net change of -1K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.
What do loading and moving machine operators, underground mining do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working loading and moving machine operators, underground mining, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.
- 2.Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.
- 3.Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.
- 4.Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.
- 5.Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses.
- 6.Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines.
- 7.Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel.
- 8.Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces.
Top skills for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become loading and moving machine operators, underground mining?
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
What is the median salary for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining?
The median annual salary for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining is $68,860 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is loading and moving machine operators, underground mining a growing career?
BLS projects -22.3% growth for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining from 2024 through 2034, which is declining growth projected to lose jobs through 2034.
What education does my child need to become loading and moving machine operators, underground mining?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to loading and moving machine operators, underground mining?
Related occupations within the Construction and Extraction category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.