Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining: Entry-Level vs Senior Salary in Pennsylvania (2024)

How does Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary grow from entry-level to senior in Pennsylvania? State salary progression based on 2024 BLS data.

67% career growth potential

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • Pennsylvania salary data • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$37,170
$3,098/mo
Mid-Career (Median)
$46,890
$3,908/mo
Senior (P90)
$61,910
$5,159/mo

Pennsylvania vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$37,170
National: $41,300
-10.0%
Mid-Career (Median)
$46,890
National: $55,642
-15.7%
Senior (P90)
$61,910
National: $74,641
-17.1%

Salary Progression: Entry-Level to Senior

The salary range for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Pennsylvania spans from $37,170 at entry-level to $61,910 at senior level — a difference of $24,740 per year.

P10
$37K
P25
$44K
Median
$46K
P75
$53K
P90
$61K

Career Growth Premium: +67%

Senior Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings in Pennsylvania earn $24,740 more per year than entry-level professionals.

Annual Difference
+$24,740
Monthly Difference
+$2,062
Hourly Difference
+$11.89
Growth Multiple
1.7x

Detailed Salary Breakdown by Experience Level

Complete percentile breakdown showing how Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary increases with experience in Pennsylvania, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).

Experience Level Percentile Annual Salary Monthly Hourly
Entry-Level P10 $37,170 $3,098 $17.87
Early Career P25 $44,370 $3,698 $21.33
Mid-Career Median $46,890 $3,908 $22.54
Experienced P75 $53,380 $4,448 $25.66
Senior / Expert P90 $61,910 $5,159 $29.76
Key Insight

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Pennsylvania has a moderate salary progression with a 67% growth from entry-level ($37,170) to senior ($61,910). While the growth potential is steady, professionals looking to maximize earnings may benefit from specialization, advanced certifications, or gaining experience in higher-paying states. The gap between median ($46,890) and P90 ($61,910) shows there is still room for meaningful growth beyond mid-career.

How Pennsylvania Compares to Other States

Where does Pennsylvania rank for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining senior-level salaries? Compare Pennsylvania's P90 pay to other top-paying states.

1
$133,690
Entry: $41K
+222%
2
$131,260
Entry: $51K
+156%
3
$119,680
Entry: $45K
+163%
4
$101,670
Entry: $57K
+78%
5
$100,130
Entry: $41K
+141%
6
$93,690
Entry: $51K
+81%
7
$88,930
Entry: $38K
+129%
8
$87,830
Entry: $48K
+82%
9
$87,010
Entry: $46K
+87%
10
$85,150
Entry: $50K
+68%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the entry-level salary for a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?

Entry-level Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings (10th percentile) earn approximately $37,170 per year, or $3,097 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $44,370. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.

How much does a senior Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make?

Senior Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings (90th percentile) earn approximately $61,910 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $53,380. This represents a career premium of 67% over entry-level pay.

What is the salary growth potential for a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?

The career salary growth potential for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings is 67%. Entry-level professionals start at $37,170, while senior-level can earn up to $61,910 — a difference of $24,740 per year.

Which state pays the highest salary for senior Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings?

The highest-paying state for senior Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings is Pennsylvania, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $61,910 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.

How are entry-level and senior Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salaries determined?

We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.

Related Salary Pages

About This Data

Salary percentile data for Pennsylvania from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within Pennsylvania.

Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS

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