Continuous Mining Machine Operators Salary
Continuous Mining Machine Operators in Wheeling, WV-OH make a median of $66,300 a year, or about $31.87 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.32), which stretches that salary to about $75,068 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $991/month, or 22.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $66K get you in Wheeling?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Wheeling’s Regional Price Parity (88.32). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About continuous mining machine operators
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What this looks like in Wheeling
Continuous mining machine operators pay in Wheeling tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $991/month, 22.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.32 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for continuous mining machine operators in metros near Wheeling, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Beckley | $64K | $73K |
| Charleston | $65K | $74K |
| Pittsburgh | $61K | $64K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wheeling, WV-OH
Entry-level continuous mining machine operators (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Continuous Mining Machine Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Continuous Mining Machine Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $91K | +47% | 420 |
| Nevada | $86K | +38% | 1,110 |
| Wyoming | $85K | +38% | 330 |
| Colorado | $81K | +31% | 290 |
| West Virginia | $78K | +25% | 720 |
| Illinois | $75K | +21% | 230 |
| Indiana | $72K | +16% | 170 |
| Virginia | $63K | +3% | 230 |
| California | $63K | +2% | 940 |
| Florida | $63K | +1% | 230 |
| Idaho | $61K | -1% | 70 |
| Arizona | $61K | -2% | 2,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -2% | 510 |
| Utah | $59K | -4% | 890 |
| Alabama | $59K | -4% | 340 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -4% | 230 |
| Ohio | $58K | -6% | 260 |
| Michigan | $58K | -7% | 180 |
| Georgia | $57K | -8% | 140 |
| Nebraska | $52K | -16% | 70 |
| Kentucky | $50K | -19% | 390 |
| Texas | $49K | -21% | 390 |
| New Mexico | $49K | -21% | 470 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -23% | 80 |
| Missouri | $47K | -24% | 920 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -24% | 310 |
| New York | $46K | -25% | 180 |
Showing 1–10 of 27 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track continuous mining machine operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wheeling numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a continuous mining machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wheeling?
Yes — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 22.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $991/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for continuous mining machine operators in Wheeling?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new continuous mining machine operators typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,590/month. At HUD’s $991/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is continuous mining machine operator a high-paying job in Wheeling?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Wheeling compare to the national average for continuous mining machine operators?
Wheeling pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do continuous mining machine operators make in Wheeling, WV-OH?
The median is $66,300 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,840, and experienced continuous mining machine operators can clear $86,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Wheeling?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,377/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $991/month, which eats 22.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a continuous mining machine operators salary go in Wheeling?
Wheeling has a Regional Price Parity of 88.32 (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 $75,068 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.