Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Minings in Wheeling, WV-OH make a median of $81,100 a year, or about $38.99 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.32), which stretches that salary to about $91,825 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $991/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $81K 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 loading and moving machine operators, underground minings
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What this looks like in Wheeling
Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining pay in Wheeling tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $991/month, 19.1% 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 loading and moving machine operators, underground minings in metros near Wheeling, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Beckley | $74K | $84K |
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 loading and moving machine operators, underground minings (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $112K | +50% | 30 |
| Alaska | $93K | +25% | 50 |
| Nevada | $83K | +11% | 880 |
| South Carolina | $80K | +8% | 30 |
| Colorado | $79K | +6% | 70 |
| Virginia | $77K | +3% | 190 |
| Illinois | $76K | +2% | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $75K | +1% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $75K | +1% | 1,250 |
| Arizona | $72K | -3% | 100 |
| Ohio | $71K | -4% | 130 |
| New York | $61K | -18% | 140 |
| Alabama | $60K | -19% | 510 |
| Michigan | $59K | -20% | 80 |
| Missouri | $52K | -30% | 100 |
| Georgia | $50K | -32% | 100 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -35% | 110 |
| Iowa | $48K | -35% | 100 |
| Texas | $47K | -36% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -40% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 20 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track loading and moving machine operators, underground mining salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wheeling numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a loading and moving machine operators, underground mining afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wheeling?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 19.1% 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 loading and moving machine operators, underground minings in Wheeling?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new loading and moving machine operators, underground minings typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,902/month. At HUD’s $991/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is loading and moving machine operators, underground mining a high-paying job in Wheeling?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Wheeling compare to the national average for loading and moving machine operators, underground minings?
Wheeling pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do loading and moving machine operators, underground minings make in Wheeling, WV-OH?
The median is $81,100 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,040, and experienced loading and moving machine operators, underground minings can clear $84,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Wheeling?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,181/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $991/month, which eats 19.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a loading and moving machine operators, underground mining 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 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining salary is worth about $91,825 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.