Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
In Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings earn $50,270 at the median, or about $24.17 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.34), that's roughly $52,180 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,730/month — about 49.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin’s Regional Price Parity (96.34). 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, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Entry-level excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $22K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median is $50,270 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,760, and experienced excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings can clear $63,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,536/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,730/month, which eats 48.9% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin has a Regional Price Parity of 96.34 (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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary is worth about $52,180 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.
