Roof Bolters, Mining
Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.
Also called: Bolt Machine Operator · Bolt Man · Bolter · Miner · Place Change Roof Bolter · Roof Bolter
Median pay (national)
$76,640
$50,880–$87,420 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
2,230
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-34.2%
~100 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for roof bolters, mining shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $87,420 versus $50,880 at the bottom 10% — 1.7x. The median of $76,640 leaves roughly 14% 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 -34.2% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 4 states with released data, Wyoming pays the most for this role (median $113,750, +48% vs the national median), while Kentucky sits lowest at $70,620 — a 61% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Active Listening 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
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.
- Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported.
- Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks.
- Perform safety checks on equipment before operating.
- Perform tests to determine if methane gas is present.
- Force bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines.
- Perform ventilation tasks, such as hanging ventilation curtains and tubes.
- Dust rocks after bolting.
- Drill test holes and test bolts for specified tension, using torque wrenches.
- Position safety jacks to support underground mine roofs until bolts can be installed.
Tools & technology
- Caterpillar Cat MineStar System
- Caterpillar Command
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service