Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
In Charleston-North Charleston, SC, excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings earn $40,230 at the median, or about $19.34 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $39,847 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month — about 65.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $40K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $52K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $105K | +101% | 840 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +50% | 740 |
| Alaska | $79K | +50% | 140 |
| North Dakota | $77K | +46% | 200 |
| Wyoming | $76K | +45% | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $74K | +41% | 190 |
| California | $74K | +40% | 900 |
| Indiana | $68K | +30% | 950 |
| Maryland | $65K | +24% | 730 |
| Montana | $65K | +23% | 170 |
| West Virginia | $63K | +20% | 780 |
| Washington | $63K | +19% | 760 |
| District of Columbia | $62K | +19% | 40 |
| Illinois | $62K | +19% | 1,020 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | +16% | 250 |
| Oregon | $60K | +15% | 240 |
| Connecticut | $60K | +14% | 140 |
| Vermont | $59K | +13% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | +10% | 640 |
| New Mexico | $57K | +9% | 240 |
| Idaho | $57K | +9% | 290 |
| Arizona | $57K | +9% | 370 |
| Nevada | $57K | +8% | 650 |
| New York | $56K | +7% | 1,410 |
| Ohio | $56K | +7% | 1,040 |
| Missouri | $56K | +6% | 460 |
| Maine | $55K | +5% | 270 |
| Delaware | $55K | +5% | 60 |
| Michigan | $54K | +2% | 750 |
| Virginia | $54K | +2% | 1,480 |
| Utah | $52K | -1% | 650 |
| Iowa | $52K | -1% | 710 |
| South Dakota | $52K | -1% | 270 |
| North Carolina | $51K | -3% | 450 |
| Nebraska | $50K | -5% | 360 |
| Kansas | $50K | -5% | 190 |
| Georgia | $49K | -7% | 1,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $49K | -7% | 1,660 |
| Texas | $48K | -9% | 4,910 |
| Florida | $47K | -10% | 1,660 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -10% | 680 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -12% | 780 |
| Alabama | $46K | -12% | 470 |
| South Carolina | $46K | -12% | 580 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -14% | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -14% | 1,270 |
| Louisiana | $44K | -17% | 440 |
| Mississippi | $41K | -22% | 230 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $40,230 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,070, and experienced excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings can clear $52,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,785/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 64.2% 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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary go in Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary is worth about $39,847 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings 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.