Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median of $52,760 a year ($25.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,050 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 1% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $52,350. There are 0.14 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $55,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,840 | $23.96 |
| 25th percentile | $51,230 | $24.63 |
| Median | $52,760 | $25.37 |
| 75th percentile | $58,690 | $28.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| Average (mean) | $55,520 | $26.69 |
Half of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,396.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,198.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,029.23 |
| Weekly | $1,014.62 |
| Hourly | $25.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $52,760 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $94,960 | 880 |
| Vineland, NJ | $61,760 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,280 | 290 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $58,110 | 50 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $56,480 | 80 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $51,210 | 270 |
| Lancaster, PA | $50,850 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
See Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $97,910 | $47.07 |
| Construction Laborer | $49,290 | $23.70 |
| Carpenter | $59,540 | $28.63 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $82,490 | $39.66 |
| Electrician | $66,500 | $31.97 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $64,940 | $31.22 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $58,360 | $28.06 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $66,410 | $31.93 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $50,880 | $24.46 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $62,970 | $30.28 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $65,310 | $31.40 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $83,630 | $40.21 |
| Roofer | $58,140 | $27.95 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $52,760 a year, or $25.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn at least $63,050 a year. The top 25% earn $58,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,840 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $51,230 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
About 50 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.