Occupation · SOC 47-5022
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
Median wage
$52,550
$39,650–$80,970
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
34,210
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
36 mapped
Core skills
Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringMonitoringReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingCoordinationPersuasion
Knowledge areas
MechanicalBuilding and Construction
Technology & tools
Electronic mail softwareIndustrial control softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation software
Representative tasks
Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.Create or maintain inclines or ramps.Lubricate, adjust, or repair machinery and replace parts, such as gears, bearings, or bucket teeth.Handle slides, mud, or pit cleanings or maintenance.Direct workers engaged in placing blocks or outriggers to prevent capsizing of machines when lifting heavy loads.Measure and verify levels of rock or gravel, bases, or other excavated material.Direct ground workers engaged in activities such as moving stakes or markers, or changing positions of towers.Adjust dig face angles for varying overburden depths and set lengths.Drive machines to work sites.Perform manual labor to prepare or finish sites, such as shoveling materials by hand.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Machine controls including levers, foot pedals, and dials — identify and operate under direct supervision on a surface mining site.Pre-operation equipment inspection — perform basic walkaround checks following a printed checklist before each shift.Digging plans and operator manuals — read and ask clarifying questions to become familiar with machine capabilities and site-specific procedures.Hand signals and grade stakes — recognize and respond to standard signals while operating equipment under close supervisor guidance.Written and oral work instructions — receive, repeat back, and follow directions for material movement or excavation tasks.Power shovel or backhoe controls — practice coordinated multilimb inputs in low-risk areas of the mine under trainer observation.Short-distance material movement — move spoil or aggregate around a designated work zone with spotter assistance.Workplace hazard awareness — identify and report unsafe ground conditions, berm failures, or equipment faults to a supervisor.Basic mechanical vocabulary — use correct terminology when describing equipment components or malfunctions during shift handoffs.Personal protective equipment and site entry protocols — apply consistently before boarding any machine or entering the work area.
developing
Power shovels, scraper loaders, and backhoes — operate routinely with reduced oversight to meet daily production targets on a surface mine bench.Pre-shift and post-shift equipment inspections — complete independently, document findings, and flag maintenance needs using site reporting forms.Digging plan specifications — read and interpret grade stakes and survey markings to excavate to specified depth and grade without constant supervision.Backfilling, rock breaking, and incline shaping — perform varied excavation activities adapting technique to soil and rock conditions encountered.Operator-level troubleshooting — identify common hydraulic, track, or bucket issues and coordinate with maintenance crew for timely repairs.Oral and written work orders — interpret and prioritize multiple instructions across a shift to maintain efficient material flow on site.Ramp and incline construction — grade and maintain haul-road ramps to safe slope specifications using machine blade or bucket.Production monitoring — track cycle times and observe equipment performance indicators to sustain consistent output during a standard shift.Coordination with haul truck operators — time loading sequences and spot trucks efficiently to minimize wait time and maximize payload.Winter road construction — operate machinery to compact or blade frozen-ground roads following cold-weather operational procedures.
proficient
Full equipment fleet including draglines and stripping shovels — operate autonomously across varied surface mining conditions and non-routine ground challenges.Complex digging plans and cut sequences — analyze and execute multi-bench excavation strategies adjusting for unexpected rock, water, or utility conflicts.Non-routine mechanical faults — diagnose and resolve equipment malfunctions in the field using mechanical knowledge and industrial control software diagnostics.Grade and volume accuracy — achieve tight cut tolerances independently, cross-checking machine position against grade stakes and survey data without supervision.Hazard recognition and response — identify slope instability, equipment overload, or site flooding in real time and take corrective action without prompting.Equipment selection for task conditions — evaluate soil, rock type, and production requirements to recommend the most efficient machine configuration or attachment.Shift documentation and reporting — record production volumes, fuel consumption, and incident data accurately using spreadsheet or office suite software.Training of entry-level operators — demonstrate safe machine operation techniques and mentor new hires through hands-on coaching during live production shifts.Coordination across disciplines — communicate excavation progress and schedule impacts clearly with surveyors, blasting crews, and site supervisors.Regulatory and environmental compliance — apply mining permit conditions and environmental controls during excavation to protect groundwater and slope stability.
advanced
Site-wide excavation strategy — develop and communicate multi-phase digging sequences that optimize production, safety, and cost across the entire surface mine operation.Operator competency standards — design and implement a structured on-the-job training program that advances workers from entry level to proficient across all machine types.Equipment fleet planning — evaluate machine capabilities, maintenance cycles, and production demands to recommend procurement or retirement decisions to mine management.Safety culture leadership — establish pre-shift briefing standards, hazard reporting systems, and corrective-action protocols adopted across the extraction workforce.Production performance analysis — use operational data from industrial control and spreadsheet software to identify efficiency gaps and drive measurable improvement.Cross-departmental coordination — align excavation schedules with blasting, hauling, and reclamation teams to eliminate bottlenecks at an organizational level.Regulatory liaison — represent the operation in discussions with mining safety inspectors, translating compliance requirements into workable site procedures.Incident investigation and root cause analysis — lead post-incident reviews for equipment damage or near-miss events, producing findings that reshape operational policy.Mentorship of developing supervisors — coach lead operators and shift supervisors in decision-making, team communication, and stress management on active mine sites.Continuous improvement initiatives — pilot new operating techniques, attachment technologies, or haul-road designs and present results to senior leadership for adoption.
Also known as
85 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
ExcavatorEarth Moving Equipment OperatorAerial Tram OperatorCoal-Equipment OperatorTrench Shovel OperatorScoop OperatorShovel OperatorQuarrying Specialist (RC) (Army 12G)Diesel Scoop OperatorHydro Excavation OperatorEquipment OperatorSeptic Tank SetterScoop DriverSteam ShovelmanMining Shovel OperatorPlunger Scoop OperatorExcavation OperatorCombat Engineer (Marine Corps 1371)End Loader OperatorAir Shovel OperatorFoundation DiggerTrencher DriverTower-Excavator OperatorPit OperatorCrane Operator (Navy B09A)Mechanical Shovel OperatorMaterial Maintenance Specialty (Coast Guard MAT)Stripping-Shovel OperatorElectric Scoop OperatorPavements and Construction Equipment Journeyman (Air Force 3E251)Excavator Backhoe OperatorBack Digger OperatorClam Shovel OperatorPlunger Shovel OperatorBack Hoe OperatorPavements and Construction Equipment Helper (Air Force 3E211)Mining Backhoe OperatorBack Filler OperatorSeptic-Tank InstallerSteam Shovel Operator