Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $57,640 a year ($27.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,870 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 21% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $47,780. There are 0.24 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $56,720, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| 25th percentile | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| Median | $57,640 | $27.71 |
| 75th percentile | $60,990 | $29.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,870 | $33.59 |
| Average (mean) | $56,720 | $27.27 |
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 | $4,803.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,401.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,216.92 |
| Weekly | $1,108.46 |
| Hourly | $27.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,640 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,140 | 240 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $59,560 | 210 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $48,190 | 50 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $46,300 | $22.26 |
| Electrician | $57,320 | $27.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $76,490 | $36.77 |
| Carpenter | $52,030 | $25.01 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,870 | $29.75 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $58,560 | $28.15 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $53,630 | $25.79 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Roofer | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $47,160 | $22.68 |
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $43,000 | $20.67 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $51,820 | $24.92 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $40,310 | $19.38 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $59,540 | $28.63 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $57,640 a year, or $27.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $69,870 a year. The top 25% earn $60,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,180 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $44,580 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 70 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.