Continuous Mining Machine Operators Salary
Continuous Mining Machine Operators in Kentucky make a median of $50,020 a year, or about $24.05 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $55,436 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Kentucky. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $50K get you in Kentucky?
About continuous mining machine operators
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for continuous mining machine operators in Kentucky runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level continuous mining machine operators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
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Track continuous mining machine operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a continuous mining machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 33.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for continuous mining machine operators in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new continuous mining machine operators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,937/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is continuous mining machine operator a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $50K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for continuous mining machine operators?
Kentucky pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do continuous mining machine operators make in Kentucky?
The median is $50,020 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,950, and experienced continuous mining machine operators can clear $68,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,352/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 33.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a continuous mining machine operators salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median continuous mining machine operators salary is worth about $55,436 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do continuous mining machine operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.