Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $56,800 a year ($27.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,520 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 2% lower than the New York statewide median of $58,120. There are 0.19 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $61,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,140 | $19.78 |
| 25th percentile | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| Median | $56,800 | $27.31 |
| 75th percentile | $80,830 | $38.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,520 | $44.96 |
| Average (mean) | $61,480 | $29.56 |
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 | $4,733.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,366.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,184.62 |
| Weekly | $1,092.31 |
| Hourly | $27.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York 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 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $65,200 | 50 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $60,050 | 340 |
| Syracuse, NY | $49,840 | 80 |
| Rochester, NY | $48,730 | 80 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $48,160 | 40 |
| Binghamton, NY | $47,810 | 30 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| Construction Laborer | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| Carpenter | $63,500 | $30.53 |
| Electrician | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $82,190 | $39.51 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $72,230 | $34.73 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $73,650 | $35.41 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $77,040 | $37.04 |
| Roofer | $62,590 | $30.09 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $72,580 | $34.89 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $59,700 | $28.70 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $56,800 a year, or $27.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $93,520 a year. The top 25% earn $80,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,140 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $44,550 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 100 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.