Surface Mining Machine Operators and Earth Drillers
SOC 47-5020
The median annual wage for Surface Mining Machine Operators and Earth Drillers is $51,930, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $57,190, and an estimated 50,640 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2021 and 2023, pay rose +9.6% while consumer prices rose 12.4% — a real change of -2.5% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Surface Mining Machine Operators and Earth Drillers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $51,930 | $51,930 | 50,640 |
| 2022 | $49,590 | $51,631 | 52,680 |
| 2021 | $47,370 | $53,267 | 51,520 |
Nominal change
+9.6%
Inflation (CPI)
+12.4%
Real change
-2.5%
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$38,620
25th Pct
$45,480
Median
$51,930
75th Pct
$63,760
90th Pct
$79,500
Related Occupations in Construction & Extraction
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.