Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $61,140 a year ($29.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,940 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 28% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $47,780. There are 0.35 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,570, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,200 | $19.33 |
| 25th percentile | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| Median | $61,140 | $29.40 |
| 75th percentile | $71,460 | $34.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,940 | $42.28 |
| 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 | $5,095 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,547.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,351.54 |
| Weekly | $1,175.77 |
| Hourly | $29.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,140 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $87,060 | 570 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $65,290 | 30 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,330 | 320 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $59,560 | 210 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $57,640 | 70 |
| 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $83,750 | $40.26 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,420 | $22.80 |
| Electrician | $62,440 | $30.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| Carpenter | $56,520 | $27.17 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $74,680 | $35.91 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $61,890 | $29.76 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $52,700 | $25.34 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $48,920 | $23.52 |
| Roofer | $49,160 | $23.64 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $45,200 | $21.73 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $63,600 | $30.58 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $61,140 a year, or $29.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $87,940 a year. The top 25% earn $71,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,200 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $44,450 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 240 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.