Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
In Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings earn $59,470 at the median, or about $28.59 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.55), that's roughly $57,991 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,810/month — about 45.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $59K get you in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (102.55). 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, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Entry-level excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $55K 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The median is $59,470 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,140, and experienced excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings can clear $104,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,000/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,810/month, which eats 45.3% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.55 (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 $57,991 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.