Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $53,800 a year ($25.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,680 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 9% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $49,500. There are 0.11 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $57,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,110 | $23.13 |
| 25th percentile | $48,490 | $23.31 |
| Median | $53,800 | $25.87 |
| 75th percentile | $60,370 | $29.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| Average (mean) | $57,780 | $27.78 |
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 | $4,483.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,241.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,069.23 |
| Weekly | $1,034.62 |
| Hourly | $25.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $53,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,430 | 40 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $58,950 | $28.34 |
| Construction Laborer | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $78,830 | $37.90 |
| Electrician | $63,340 | $30.45 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $56,030 | $26.94 |
| Carpenter | $55,770 | $26.81 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $60,100 | $28.90 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $48,810 | $23.47 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $44,330 | $21.31 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $61,310 | $29.48 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| Roofer | $48,120 | $23.14 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $54,400 | $26.16 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $53,800 a year, or $25.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $83,680 a year. The top 25% earn $60,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,110 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $48,490 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 120 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.