Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median of $65,370 a year ($31.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,390 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 7% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $61,020. There are 0.08 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.34). The average (mean) salary is $68,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,680 | $23.89 |
| 25th percentile | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Median | $65,370 | $31.43 |
| 75th percentile | $79,390 | $38.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,390 | $38.17 |
| Average (mean) | $68,070 | $32.73 |
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 | $5,447.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,723.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,514.23 |
| Weekly | $1,257.12 |
| Hourly | $31.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $65,370 salary, see how much house you can afford in Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pueblo, CO | $63,600 | 40 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $61,410 | 50 |
| Greeley, CO | $60,070 | 120 |
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 Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $66,220 | $31.84 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $63,760 | $30.65 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $70,200 | $33.75 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $69,700 | $33.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,400 | $40.10 |
| Electrician | $63,150 | $30.36 |
| Construction Laborer | $48,760 | $23.44 |
| Carpenter | $64,910 | $31.21 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,900 | $30.72 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $62,130 | $29.87 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $82,020 | $39.43 |
| Roofer | $55,830 | $26.84 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $58,070 | $27.92 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $65,370 a year, or $31.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn at least $79,390 a year. The top 25% earn $79,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,680 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $60,690 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
About 120 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.