Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $46,490 a year ($22.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,990 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 1% higher than the Arkansas statewide median of $46,170. There are 0.52 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,020, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,670 | $18.11 |
| 25th percentile | $40,800 | $19.62 |
| Median | $46,490 | $22.35 |
| 75th percentile | $49,700 | $23.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,990 | $26.92 |
| Average (mean) | $46,020 | $22.13 |
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 | $3,874.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,937.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,788.08 |
| Weekly | $894.04 |
| Hourly | $22.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,490 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $56,780 | 60 |
| Tulsa, OK | $48,330 | 170 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $47,800 | 80 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $47,100 | 160 |
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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $36,950 | $17.77 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $41,820 | $20.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| Electrician | $52,500 | $25.24 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $48,350 | $23.24 |
| Carpenter | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Roofer | $44,230 | $21.27 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $38,890 | $18.70 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,210 | $22.22 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $59,800 | $28.75 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $45,220 | $21.74 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $46,490 a year, or $22.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $55,990 a year. The top 25% earn $49,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,670 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $40,800 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 50 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.