Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $61,040 a year ($29.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,870 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 3% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $59,480. There are 0.17 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $60,630, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,790 | $21.54 |
| 25th percentile | $48,210 | $23.18 |
| Median | $61,040 | $29.35 |
| 75th percentile | $66,570 | $32.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,870 | $37.44 |
| Average (mean) | $60,630 | $29.15 |
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 | $5,086.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,543.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,347.69 |
| Weekly | $1,173.85 |
| Hourly | $29.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,040 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | $60,610 | 90 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,280 | 290 |
| Richmond, VA | $58,710 | 140 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $56,470 | 430 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $53,700 | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $53,420 | 80 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,430 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $48,190 | 50 |
| Roanoke, VA | $46,610 | 30 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $59,770 | $28.74 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $63,920 | $30.73 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Electrician | $75,930 | $36.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,540 | $40.16 |
| Carpenter | $60,800 | $29.23 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $71,860 | $34.55 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $61,660 | $29.64 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $50,560 | $24.31 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $80,150 | $38.54 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,350 | $28.05 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $59,070 | $28.40 |
| Roofer | $58,340 | $28.05 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $60,670 | $29.17 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $61,040 a year, or $29.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $77,870 a year. The top 25% earn $66,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,790 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $48,210 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 540 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.