SOC 47-5049 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other — Montana
Montana
The median wage for Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other in Montana is $84,410 per year, 20.4% above the national median of $70,130.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other in Montana is $84,410 per year, 20.4% above the national median of $70,130. Half of workers earn between $79,820 and $84,430. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $79,820 and the ninetieth at $85,480.
Montana ranks number 2nd out of 9 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 604 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 107th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,820 | +13.8% |
| 25th | $79,820 | +13.8% |
| Median (50th) | $84,410 | +20.4% |
| 75th | $84,430 | +20.4% |
| 90th | $85,480 | +21.9% |
| Mean | $82,140 | +17.1% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Montana run 5.4% below the national average, so the median of $84,410 goes as far as $89,228 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 27.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$84,410as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$89,228US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $84,410 a year, 20.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $79,820 to $85,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 2nd of 9 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other in Montana?
The median annual wage is $84,410, or $40.58 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 $70,130, so pay in Montana is 20.4% 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 Montana earns more than $85,480 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $79,820 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.
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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