SOC 17-2151 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers — Southwest Virginia
Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area
The median wage for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in Southwest Virginia, VA is $97,360 per year, 8.3% below the national median of $106,220.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in Southwest Virginia, VA is $97,360 per year, 8.3% below the national median of $106,220. Half of workers earn between $78,190 and $130,420. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $65,300 and the ninetieth at $156,240.
Employment stands at 70, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Of the 327 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 32nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,300 | −38.5% |
| 25th | $78,190 | −26.4% |
| Median (50th) | $97,360 | −8.3% |
| 75th | $130,420 | +22.8% |
| 90th | $156,240 | +47.1% |
| Mean | $103,730 | −2.3% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Virginia sit close to the national average, so $97,360 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$97,360as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$96,301US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $97,360 a year, 8.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $65,300 to $156,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in Southwest Virginia, VA?
The median annual wage is $97,360, or $46.81 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 $106,220, so pay in Southwest Virginia, VA is 8.3% 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 Southwest Virginia, VA earns more than $156,240 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $65,300 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Virginia, VA. 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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