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Skilled Trades

Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining

Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.

Median salary (BLS)

$74,500

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$52k – $88k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining

    Entry / Junior

    $52,030

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining

    Established

    $74,500

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining

    Senior

    $81,115

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.
  • •Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.
  • •Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.
  • •Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.
  • •Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.