Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $59,860 a year ($28.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,870 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 2% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $58,620. There are 0.15 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $60,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,820 | $23.95 |
| 25th percentile | $57,770 | $27.78 |
| Median | $59,860 | $28.78 |
| 75th percentile | $64,020 | $30.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,870 | $35.51 |
| Average (mean) | $60,570 | $29.12 |
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 | $4,988.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,494.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,302.31 |
| Weekly | $1,151.15 |
| Hourly | $28.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,860 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $59,030 | 140 |
| Asheville, NC | $58,710 | 30 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $56,570 | 30 |
| Columbia, SC | $54,370 | 80 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $53,420 | 80 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $49,520 | 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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $61,500 | $29.57 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $86,900 | $41.78 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $48,690 | $23.41 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $80,480 | $38.69 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $77,300 | $37.16 |
| Electrician | $59,080 | $28.41 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $58,690 | $28.22 |
| Carpenter | $50,960 | $24.50 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $75,570 | $36.33 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $48,200 | $23.17 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $44,900 | $21.59 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $59,860 a year, or $28.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $73,870 a year. The top 25% earn $64,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,820 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $57,770 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 200 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.