Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings out-earn Construction Laborerss by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings land at $57,430 and Construction Laborerss at $47,120. The education gap is real: excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings is North Dakota ($90,380); for Construction Laborerss it's Hawaii ($77,110).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings or Construction Laborerss?
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings earn more nationally. The median is $57,430 for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings versus $47,120 for Construction Laborerss, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining 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, Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining or Construction Laborers?
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining 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 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings get paid the most?
North Dakota is the top-paying state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings at $90,380/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Illinois, Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Minings earn $80,600 vs. $60,690 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.