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Salary comparison

Continuous Mining Machine Operators vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss out-earn Construction Laborerss by $15K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss land at $61,810 and Construction Laborerss at $47,120. The education gap is real: continuous mining machine operator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss is Minnesota ($90,820); for Construction Laborerss it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$61,810
$47,120
Hourly rate
$29.72/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$46,770
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$86,210
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
14,000
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Minnesota
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Continuous Mining Machine Operators median pay.

State
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Construction Laborers
Minnesota
$90,820
$60,260
Nevada
$85,590
$48,990
Colorado
$81,110
$47,900
Illinois
$74,830
$60,690
Indiana
$71,570
$50,070
California
$62,790
$60,270
Idaho
$60,990
$46,940
Arizona
$60,880
$46,590
Pennsylvania
$60,780
$49,400
Utah
$59,420
$46,550
Ohio
$58,030
$56,080
Michigan
$57,760
$49,590
Nebraska
$51,760
$47,260
Missouri
$47,280
$56,730
New York
$46,450
$55,930

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss or Construction Laborerss?

Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss earn more nationally. The median is $61,810 for Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss versus $47,120 for Construction Laborerss, a difference of $15K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Continuous Mining Machine Operators or Construction Laborers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Continuous Mining Machine Operators or Construction Laborers?

Continuous Mining Machine Operators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss get paid the most?

Minnesota is the top-paying state for Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss at $90,820/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Continuous Mining Machine Operators vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Minnesota, Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss earn $90,820 vs. $60,260 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Continuous Mining Machine Operators salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Continuous Mining Machine Operatorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a continuous mining machine operatorsGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →