Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, shuttle cars, or trucks in a continuous operation.
Also called: Bore Miner Operator · Continuous Miner · Continuous Miner Operator (CMO) · Continuous Mining Machine Operator · Continuous Mining Operator (CMO) · Heavy Equipment Operator
Median pay (national)
$63,380
$41,450–$84,420 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
14,340
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+0.6%
~1,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for continuous mining machine operators shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $84,420 versus $41,450 at the bottom 10% — 2.0x. The median of $63,380 leaves roughly 33% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +0.6% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 31 states with released data, Wisconsin pays the most for this role (median $93,200, +47% vs the national median), while Texas sits lowest at $36,260 — a 157% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.
- Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.
- Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
- Drive machines into position at working faces.
- Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.
- Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
- Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
- Observe and listen to equipment operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment malfunctions.
- Repair, oil, and adjust machines, and change cutting teeth, using wrenches.
- Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.
Tools & technology
- Fleet monitoring system software
- Hitachi ZXLink
- Leica Geosystems FMS
- Minitab
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing
- Law and Government
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security