Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators Salary by State
Also called: Excavating Machine Operators, Surface Mining
The national median pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators is $57,430 a year. By state, it ranges from $46,170 in Arkansas to $90,380 in North Dakota.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $41,600
- 25th percentile
- $47,890
- Median
- $57,430
- 75th percentile
- $65,730
- Top 10%
- $82,400
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 34,480 jobs.
Median pay in 49 states
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $90,380 | +57% | $50,440 | $123,880 | 220 |
| 2 | Illinois | $80,600 | +40% | $46,130 | $93,290 | 1,310 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $80,310 | +40% | $54,220 | $123,590 | 740 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $78,230 | +36% | $57,700 | $88,000 | 420 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $76,350 | +33% | $44,840 | $85,880 | 270 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $76,070 | +32% | $55,210 | $110,730 | 280 |
| 7 | Alaska | $74,680 | +30% | $42,680 | $106,110 | 140 |
| 8 | California | $74,500 | +30% | $54,390 | $142,600 | 790 |
| 9 | Montana | $65,850 | +15% | $40,990 | $92,910 | 150 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $65,710 | +14% | $46,930 | $85,040 | 280 |
| 11 | Washington | $64,270 | +12% | $50,970 | $93,150 | 640 |
| 12 | Nevada | $63,810 | +11% | $46,920 | $88,760 | 730 |
| 13 | Indiana | $61,910 | +8% | $48,940 | $90,350 | 1,530 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $61,330 | +7% | $46,030 | $79,320 | 650 |
| 15 | Oregon | $61,280 | +7% | $50,390 | $74,420 | 310 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $61,260 | +7% | $47,100 | $85,030 | 520 |
| 17 | Colorado | $61,020 | +6% | $49,400 | $94,930 | 820 |
| 18 | Arizona | $60,310 | +5% | $47,510 | $88,130 | 560 |
| 19 | Vermont | $59,790 | +4% | $44,760 | $71,050 | 250 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $59,590 | +4% | $46,120 | $73,860 | 50 |
| 21 | Virginia | $59,480 | +4% | $40,410 | $83,080 | 1,150 |
| 22 | Iowa | $59,390 | +3% | $41,600 | $63,590 | 560 |
| 23 | Michigan | $59,040 | +3% | $45,730 | $71,090 | 880 |
| 24 | Idaho | $58,670 | +2% | $47,060 | $71,750 | 190 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $58,620 | +2% | $46,780 | $64,020 | Not published |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $58,540 | +2% | $48,010 | $83,530 | 350 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $58,370 | +2% | $46,800 | $65,820 | 300 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $58,280 | +1% | $49,110 | $73,870 | 990 |
| 29 | Ohio | $58,240 | +1% | $45,610 | $97,020 | 1,120 |
| 30 | New York | $58,120 | +1% | $44,930 | $95,000 | 1,490 |
| 31 | Maryland | $57,610 | 0% | $41,600 | $75,730 | 730 |
| 32 | Missouri | $56,760 | −1% | $43,370 | $61,720 | 310 |
| 33 | Maine | $55,890 | −3% | $44,480 | $76,230 | 230 |
| 34 | Utah | $54,330 | −5% | $46,560 | $69,180 | 400 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $53,510 | −7% | $23,660 | $64,120 | 280 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $52,580 | −8% | $39,020 | $61,730 | 330 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $52,350 | −9% | $45,800 | $60,220 | 1,520 |
| 38 | Florida | $51,990 | −9% | $40,370 | $63,640 | 1,480 |
| 39 | Georgia | $50,290 | −12% | $44,270 | $61,990 | 1,180 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $49,500 | −14% | $40,800 | $76,000 | 550 |
| 41 | Texas | $49,000 | −15% | $38,760 | $67,560 | 5,030 |
| 42 | Kansas | $48,950 | −15% | $44,180 | $57,970 | 270 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $48,490 | −16% | $35,150 | $59,020 | 290 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $48,250 | −16% | $41,600 | $61,980 | 280 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $47,780 | −17% | $37,210 | $68,390 | 790 |
| 46 | Alabama | $47,770 | −17% | $36,770 | $59,000 | 410 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $47,100 | −18% | $40,000 | $55,990 | 1,440 |
| 48 | Delaware | $46,900 | −18% | $36,480 | $70,440 | 130 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $46,170 | −20% | $37,690 | $49,700 | 250 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators salary questions
Which state pays excavating and loading machine and dragline operators the most?
North Dakota, with a median of $90,380 a year (+57% vs. the national median of $57,430). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays excavating and loading machine and dragline operators the least?
Arkansas, with a median of $46,170 a year (−20% vs. national).
Where do most excavating and loading machine and dragline operators work?
Texas has the most jobs, about 5,030, with a median of $49,000.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.