SOC 47-5022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Pennsylvania is $52,350 per year, 8.8% below the national median of $57,430.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Pennsylvania is $52,350 per year, 8.8% below the national median of $57,430. Half of workers earn between $49,000 and $58,070. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $45,800 and the ninetieth at $60,220.
The area has 1,520 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.3 of every thousand jobs. Pennsylvania ranks number 37th out of 49 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Philadelphia records the highest median at $59,280. Of the 778 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 464th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,800 | −20.3% |
| 25th | $49,000 | −14.7% |
| Median (50th) | $52,350 | −8.8% |
| 75th | $58,070 | +1.1% |
| 90th | $60,220 | +4.9% |
| Mean | $53,930 | −6.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $59,280 | 290 | |
| 2 | Scranton | $56,480 | 80 | |
| 3 | Allentown | $52,760 | 50 | |
| 4 | Pittsburgh | $51,210 | 270 | |
| 5 | Lancaster | $50,850 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $52,350 goes as far as $53,637 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$52,350as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,637US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $52,350 a year, 8.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,800 to $60,220 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,520 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 37th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Philadelphia, at $59,280.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage is $52,350, or $25.17 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 Pennsylvania is 8.8% lower. 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 Pennsylvania earns more than $60,220 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,800 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 Philadelphia, at $59,280 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,520 jobs in this occupation in Pennsylvania. 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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