Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Minings in Louisiana make a median of $48,670 a year, or about $23.4 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $55,763 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 35.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Louisiana?
About loading and moving machine operators, underground minings
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining in Louisiana runs about 35% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,191/month, which is 36% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for loading and moving machine operators, underground minings.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level loading and moving machine operators, underground minings (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salary by metro in Louisiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $48K | -2% | 40 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a loading and moving machine operators, underground mining afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 36% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/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 loading and moving machine operators, underground minings in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new loading and moving machine operators, underground minings typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,216/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 54% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is loading and moving machine operators, underground mining a high-paying job in Louisiana?
Local pay runs 35% below the national median — $49K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for loading and moving machine operators, underground minings?
Louisiana pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do loading and moving machine operators, underground minings make in Louisiana?
The median is $48,670 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,930, and experienced loading and moving machine operators, underground minings can clear $72,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,304/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 36% 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 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining salary go in Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining salary is worth about $55,763 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do loading and moving machine operators, underground 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.