Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining out-earn Construction Laborers by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining land at $57,430 and Construction Laborers 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 Mining is North Dakota ($90,380); for Construction Laborers 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 Mining or Construction Laborers?
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining earn more nationally. The median is $57,430 for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining versus $47,120 for Construction Laborers, 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?
Construction Laborers has the better 10-year outlook at 7.3% projected growth, compared to -0.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
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 Mining get paid the most?
North Dakota is the top-paying state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining 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 Mining earn $80,600 vs. $60,690 for Construction Laborers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.