Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-5049 · O*NET 47-5049.00
All underground mining machine operators not listed separately.
Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other fall under the Construction and Extraction category in the U.S. occupational classification. Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other earn a median salary of $67,220 per year, ranking in the top 36% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -6.1% 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 underground mining machine operators, all other earn?
The median annual wage for underground mining machine operators, all other is $67,220. That puts underground mining machine operators, all other at #291 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) | $46,930 |
| 25th percentile | $50,660 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $67,220 |
| 75th percentile | $80,440 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,750 |
| Median hourly wage | $32.32/hr |
Is underground mining machine operators, all other a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for underground mining machine operators, all other is -6.1%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 3K positions in 2024 to 3K in 2034, a net change of 0K. 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 education does my child need to become underground mining machine operators, all other?
Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other 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.
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 underground mining machine operators, all other
What is the median salary for underground mining machine operators, all other?
The median annual salary for underground mining machine operators, all other is $67,220 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is underground mining machine operators, all other a growing career?
BLS projects -6.1% growth for underground mining machine operators, all other from 2024 through 2034, which is declining growth projected to lose jobs through 2034.
What education does my child need to become underground mining machine operators, all other?
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 underground mining machine operators, all other?
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.