Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
SOC 17-2151 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers is $100,640, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $105,460, and an estimated 7,040 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +7.3% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -8.9% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 0.7% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers 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 | $100,640 | $100,640 | 7,040 |
| 2022 | $97,490 | $101,503 | 7,390 |
| 2021 | $97,090 | $109,176 | 7,370 |
| 2020 | $93,800 | $110,432 | 6,270 |
Nominal change
+7.3%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-8.9%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+0.7%
About average
Employment 2024
7,000
Projected 2034
7,000
Annual Openings
400
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $100,640. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $139,270 | +38.4% | 160 |
| California | $134,090 | +33.2% | 990 |
| Colorado | $120,480 | +19.7% | 530 |
| Alaska | $115,170 | +14.4% | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $110,030 | +9.3% | 200 |
| Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $109,980 | +9.3% | 70 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $109,450 | +8.8% | 70 |
| Wyoming | $108,000 | +7.3% | 130 |
| Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $105,330 | +4.7% | 40 |
| Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $104,160 | +3.5% | 180 |
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
$55,150
25th Pct
$77,730
Median
$100,640
75th Pct
$128,920
90th Pct
$160,820
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennecott Utah Copper LLC | UT | 3 | $128,712 |
| Nyrstar Tennessee Mines - Strawberry Plains, LLC | TN | 2 | $181,534 |
| ECS Southwest, LLP | TX | 2 | $90,460 |
| Freeport-McMoRan Safford Inc. | AZ | 2 | $109,000 |
| SRK CONSULTING (U.S.), INC. | CO | 2 | $84,000 |
| Layne Minerals, LLC | AZ | 1 | $72,800 |
| Freeport-McMoRan Bagdad Inc. | AZ | 1 | $96,000 |
| Northern Star (POGO) LLC | AK | 1 | $134,659 |
| Harper Mining LLC | TN | 1 | $104,000 |
| Kiewit Infrastructure Co. | NE | 1 | $101,140 |
| Vulcan Materials Company | TN | 1 | $120,000 |
| Nyrstar Tennessee Mines - Gordonsville, LLC | TN | 1 | $116,474 |
| Nevada Gold Mines LLC | NV | 1 | $147,800 |
| Redpath USA Corporation | UT | 1 | $189,363 |
| Freeport Minerals Corporation | NM | 1 | $130,000 |
| Call & Nicholas, Inc. | AZ | 1 | $112,320 |
| Kiewit Engineering Group Inc. | NE | 1 | $80,652 |
| GMS Mine Repair & Maintenance Inc | NV | 1 | $89,828 |
| Freeport-McMoRan Morenci Inc. | AZ | 1 | $92,700 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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