Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $60,250 a year ($28.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,530 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 6% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $56,760. There are 0.13 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $63,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| 25th percentile | $54,120 | $26.02 |
| Median | $60,250 | $28.97 |
| 75th percentile | $74,810 | $35.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,530 | $42.56 |
| Average (mean) | $63,510 | $30.53 |
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 | $5,020.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,510.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,317.31 |
| Weekly | $1,158.65 |
| Hourly | $28.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,250 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri 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 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,990 | 60 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $57,640 | 60 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $48,120 | $23.14 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $55,700 | $26.78 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $60,990 | $29.32 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $91,890 | $44.18 |
| Construction Laborer | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Carpenter | $70,990 | $34.13 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $96,620 | $46.45 |
| Electrician | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $82,270 | $39.56 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $77,000 | $37.02 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $64,670 | $31.09 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,810 | $28.75 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $52,160 | $25.08 |
| Roofer | $58,750 | $28.25 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $60,250 a year, or $28.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $88,530 a year. The top 25% earn $74,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,130 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $54,120 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 170 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.