SOC 47-5022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining — Beckley
Beckley, WV · 2 metro areas compared
At $60,610, median pay for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Beckley, WV tracks the national median of $57,430 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $60,610, median pay for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Beckley, WV tracks the national median of $57,430 closely. Pay ranges from under $55,450 at the tenth percentile to more than $64,190 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $60,010 to $62,880.
The area has 90 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 9.00 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Wheeling records the highest median at $53,700. Of the 196 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 65th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,450 | −3.4% |
| 25th | $60,010 | +4.5% |
| Median (50th) | $60,610 | +5.5% |
| 75th | $62,880 | +9.5% |
| 90th | $64,190 | +11.8% |
| Mean | $61,580 | +7.2% |
Other metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheeling | $53,700 | 50 | |
| 2 | Huntington | $48,190 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Beckley run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $60,610 goes as far as $67,721 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,610as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,721US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,610 a year, 5.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $55,450 to $64,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Wheeling, at $53,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Beckley, WV?
The median annual wage is $60,610, or $29.14 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $57,430, so pay in Beckley, WV is 5.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Beckley, WV earns more than $64,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $55,450 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Wheeling, at $53,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in Beckley, WV. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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