Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $82,560 a year ($39.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,160 for the top 10%. That is 44% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 11% higher than the California statewide median of $74,500. There are 0.03 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.12). The average (mean) salary is $92,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| 25th percentile | $62,720 | $30.15 |
| Median | $82,560 | $39.69 |
| 75th percentile | $117,950 | $56.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,160 | $69.31 |
| Average (mean) | $92,240 | $44.35 |
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 | $6,880 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,440 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,175.38 |
| Weekly | $1,587.69 |
| Hourly | $39.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $82,560 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $142,970 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $122,410 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $74,390 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $69,240 | 80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $65,260 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $64,400 | 100 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $91,030 | $43.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $129,700 | $62.36 |
| Carpenter | $80,190 | $38.55 |
| Construction Laborer | $68,470 | $32.92 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $107,560 | $51.71 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,970 | $29.79 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $79,430 | $38.19 |
| Roofer | $76,650 | $36.85 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $75,520 | $36.31 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $124,340 | $59.78 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $129,750 | $62.38 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $109,280 | $52.54 |
| Taper | $92,810 | $44.62 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $62,580 | $30.09 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $82,560 a year, or $39.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $144,160 a year. The top 25% earn $117,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,660 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $62,720 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 30 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.