What the work involves, what it pays, and real lines you can start from. Answer a few small questions and leave with a resume.
Also called aerial tram operator, air shovel operator, back digger operator and back filler operator.
Pay and headcount are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lines are written from what the US Department of Labor records about this work.
An example
Every line below comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Surface Mining Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator
Excavating and loading machine operator working with shovels and backhoes to excavate and load materials at a surface mining site, following safety procedures and ensuring equipment is set up and maintained
Where you worked
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becomes
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The line
Operated power machinery to excavate and load materials, reducing accidents on the site while following safety protocols and digging plans
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Adding it to the line…
The line
Operated excavation and loading machinery, following detailed digging plans and safety regulations
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Adding it to the line…
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The work itself
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
What it pays
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
| 25th percentile | $47,890 |
|---|---|
| Median | $57,430 |
| 75th percentile | $65,730 |
| State | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | $62,140 | $74,680 | $93,270 |
| AL | $40,170 | $47,770 | $52,350 |
| AR | $40,130 | $46,170 | $48,590 |
| AZ | $53,540 | $60,310 | $76,150 |
| CA | $61,240 | $74,500 | $98,690 |
| CO | $56,510 | $61,020 | $79,390 |
| CT | $60,180 | $65,710 | $79,760 |
| DE | $38,380 | $46,900 | $57,060 |
| FL | $45,490 | $51,990 | $60,460 |
| GA | $47,880 | $50,290 | $57,690 |
| IA | $48,780 | $59,390 | $61,630 |
| ID | $50,080 | $58,670 | $63,550 |
| IL | $57,720 | $80,600 | $87,580 |
| IN | $56,600 | $61,910 | $70,050 |
| KS | $46,340 | $48,950 | $56,230 |
| KY | $40,450 | $47,780 | $57,680 |
| LA | $39,500 | $53,510 | $58,220 |
| MA | $62,910 | $76,070 | $80,220 |
| MD | $42,670 | $57,610 | $69,000 |
| ME | $49,250 | $55,890 | $64,010 |
| MI | $48,930 | $59,040 | $64,050 |
| MN | $49,540 | $61,260 | $81,790 |
| MO | $49,660 | $56,760 | $59,370 |
| MS | $38,930 | $48,490 | $56,730 |
| MT | $52,430 | $65,850 | $81,480 |
| NC | $49,360 | $58,620 | $60,460 |
| ND | $59,930 | $90,380 | $120,080 |
| NE | $48,340 | $58,370 | $61,670 |
| NH | $50,610 | $58,540 | $65,880 |
| NJ | $62,490 | $80,310 | $122,950 |
| NM | $50,450 | $76,350 | $76,350 |
| NV | $57,960 | $63,810 | $83,030 |
| NY | $47,840 | $58,120 | $71,020 |
| OH | $48,740 | $58,240 | $65,900 |
| OK | $46,490 | $47,100 | $55,990 |
| OR | $56,450 | $61,280 | $70,440 |
| PA | $49,000 | $52,350 | $58,070 |
| PR | $31,200 | $35,870 | $47,510 |
| RI | $46,120 | $59,590 | $63,300 |
| SC | $46,260 | $52,580 | $58,980 |
| SD | $44,810 | $48,250 | $57,280 |
| TN | $45,880 | $49,500 | $59,130 |
| TX | $43,920 | $49,000 | $59,210 |
| UT | $48,560 | $54,330 | $62,040 |
| VA | $48,590 | $59,480 | $66,860 |
| VT | $47,900 | $59,790 | $64,660 |
| WA | $59,940 | $64,270 | $77,930 |
| WI | $51,380 | $58,280 | $62,540 |
| WV | $58,680 | $61,330 | $65,390 |
| WY | $70,010 | $78,230 | $79,870 |
Other names
aerial tram operator, air shovel operator, back digger operator, back filler operator, back hoe machine operator, back hoe operator, backhoe operator, clam shovel operator, coal equipment operator, diesel scoop operator, dragline operator, earth moving equipment operator.
earth moving machine operator, electric scoop operator, electric shovel operator, end loader operator, equipment operator, excavation operator, excavator backhoe operator, excavator operator, gas shovel operator, harvester operator, heavy equipment operator, hydro excavation operator, loader operator, mechanical shovel operator, mining backhoe operator, mining bulldozer operator, mining earth moving equipment operator, mining end loader operator, mining excavator operator, mining payloader operator, mining shovel operator, mining yard loader operator, mucking machine operator, payloader machine operator, payloader operator, pit operator, pit shovel operator, plunger scoop operator, plunger shovel operator, power digger operator, power shovel operator, scoop operator, shift operator, shovel operator, steam shovel operator, stripper shovel operator, tower excavator operator, track hoe operator, tram operator, trench shovel operator, trenching machine operator, yard loader operator, excavating and loading machine and dragline operators surface mining, dragline oiler, earth moving technician, excavator, foundation digger, horseback excavator.
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This page is about the occupation Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. Rung is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either agency. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.