Occupation · SOC 47-5049
Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other
All underground mining machine operators not listed separately.
Median wage
$67,220
$46,930–$82,750
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
3,480
Job Zone —
Core skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningOperations MonitoringMonitoringCoordinationOperation and ControlSpeakingJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
Building and ConstructionMechanicalMathematicsCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and Management
Technology & tools
Document management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks.Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported.Perform safety checks on equipment before operating.Examine blast areas to determine amounts and kinds of explosive charges needed and to ensure that safety laws are observed.Perform tests to determine if methane gas is present.Force bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines.Perform ventilation tasks, such as hanging ventilation curtains and tubes.Dust rocks after bolting.Install various types of bolts, including truss, glue, and resin bolts, traversing entire ceiling spans.Drill test holes and test bolts for specified tension, using torque wrenches.Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.Tie specified lengths of delaying fuses into patterns in order to time sequences of explosions.Position safety jacks to support underground mine roofs until bolts can be installed.Rotate chucks to turn bolts and open expansion heads against rock formations.Place safety cones around blast areas to alert other workers of danger zones, and signal workers as necessary to ensure that they clear blast sites prior to explosions.Place explosive charges in holes or other spots; then detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials.Remove drill bits from chucks after drilling holes, and insert bolts into chucks.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Blueprint and specification documents — read and interpret basic construction requirements under direct supervisor guidance on an underground mining site.Equipment pre-operation checklists — complete following established safety protocols before operating underground mining machinery.Work progress on assigned sections — inspect and report observations to a supervising operator during routine underground extraction tasks.Basic hand signals and radio communication procedures — apply under direct instruction to coordinate with crew members in a mining tunnel environment.Underground mining machinery controls — identify and operate with close oversight on low-complexity extraction tasks.Safety hazard indicators — recognize and communicate to a supervisor when encountered during routine underground operations.Daily activity logs and work records — maintain using office suite software under supervisor direction at an underground mine site.Critical thinking skills — apply to identify equipment anomalies and escalate issues to experienced operators during initial on-the-job training.Personal protective equipment and safety gear — select and use correctly in accordance with site-specific public safety requirements.Mechanical components of assigned underground mining machines — identify by name and function during supervised equipment orientation sessions.
developing
Work site inspection reports — conduct and document independently to verify safety compliance and progress against specifications on routine underground operations.Construction blueprints and technical drawings — interpret with moderate complexity to plan daily extraction or support procedures with limited supervision.Crew task assignments — coordinate and distribute among small work groups based on job-specific material and labor requirements in an underground mining environment.Operations monitoring data — review and analyze during active machinery runs to detect deviations from expected performance benchmarks.Underground mining equipment — control and adjust settings during standard extraction cycles, applying operator judgment in familiar operating conditions.Spreadsheet software — use to track equipment hours, material yields, and maintenance schedules for an underground mining crew.CAD software outputs and site design drawings — reference to confirm that underground construction or extraction activities align with approved specifications.Inter-shift coordination — execute by communicating task status, safety observations, and equipment conditions clearly to incoming crews using established reporting formats.Minor mechanical troubleshooting — perform on underground mining machinery using working knowledge of mechanical systems and on-site repair procedures.Mathematical calculations for load estimation and material measurement — apply to support accurate extraction planning and resource allocation at an underground mine.
proficient
Multi-section work site inspections — lead autonomously, verifying safety standards and specification compliance across complex underground mining operations.Detailed construction and extraction specifications — analyze and translate into actionable operating procedures for full crew deployment in non-routine underground conditions.Worker scheduling and activity coordination — manage across multiple shifts, balancing material demands and personnel capabilities at an underground mining operation.Equipment performance anomalies — diagnose and resolve during active underground extraction using advanced operations monitoring and critical thinking skills.Underground mining machinery — operate and control with precision across the full range of site conditions, including non-standard geological or structural challenges.Judgment calls on work stoppages or equipment modifications — make independently when safety risks or specification deviations are identified during live mining operations.Crew performance and task completion data — compile and present using spreadsheet and presentation software to support operational review meetings.Document management systems — administer to maintain accurate and retrievable records of inspections, assignments, and equipment maintenance histories for regulatory compliance.Cross-functional coordination with engineering and safety teams — conduct using clear technical communication to resolve design or operational conflicts at an underground mine site.Mentorship of emerging operators — provide through structured on-the-job coaching on equipment controls, blueprint reading, and safety protocols in an underground mining setting.
advanced
Organizational safety and operational standards for underground mining — develop and enforce across all crews, sites, and shifts at a multi-section mining operation.Strategic workforce planning — lead by assigning and scheduling skilled operators to meet production targets and safety requirements across an entire underground mining facility.Site-wide work progress and construction specifications — oversee through systematic inspection programs, ensuring sustained compliance with engineering blueprints and regulatory mandates.Operational risk assessments — direct and institutionalize as a standing organizational process to proactively identify and mitigate hazards in underground mining environments.Technology adoption decisions — evaluate and recommend CAD software, document management platforms, and monitoring systems to improve operational accuracy and efficiency site-wide.Inter-departmental coordination with management, engineering, and regulatory bodies — lead to align underground mining operations with organizational and legal requirements.Performance metrics and key indicators for underground extraction — design and monitor using advanced spreadsheet and reporting tools to drive continuous improvement across the operation.Emerging operator and crew supervisor development programs — establish and champion, building a pipeline of competent underground mining machine operators for long-term organizational capacity.Critical operational decisions during equipment failures or geologic emergencies — make authoritatively, applying deep mechanical knowledge and public safety principles to protect personnel and assets.Mining operation policies and administrative management procedures — author and implement to standardize best practices, communication protocols, and accountability frameworks across the organization.
Also known as
60 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Machine OperatorDuck OperatorSilver MinerHard Rock MinerShield OperatorRock DusterGold MinerEquipment OperatorCopper MinerShale Planer OperatorLode MinerOperatorIron MinerTopmanEfficiency MinerFlame ChannelerExtraction Machine OperatorLead MinerCoal Trimmer Machine OperatorMine Channeling Machine OperatorMica MinerDriller, MachineBelt OperatorClay Mine Cutting Machine OperatorZinc MinerUnderground Jumbo DrillerMetal MinerChanneling-Machine RunnerShield RunnerRock Dust SprayerCutter OperatorLongwall ShearerHydraulic MinerDry Placer Machine OperatorFace WorkerDrilling-Machine OperatorMine Cutting Machine OperatorDigging Machine OperatorQuartz MinerShearer Operator