Construction and Extraction · Holland code RC

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.

Also called: Dragline Oiler, Dragline Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Loader Operator, Backhoe Operator, Equipment Operator, Excavator Operator, Pit Operator.

O*NET 47-5022.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $57,430; Middle half earn $47,890 to $65,730. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED); 71% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 2 of 5; Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

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.
Direct workers engaged in placing blocks or outriggers to prevent capsizing of machines when lifting heavy loads.
Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Monitoring3.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension3.0 / 5
Active Listening3.0 / 5
Speaking3.0 / 5
Critical Thinking3.0 / 5
Active Learning3.0 / 5

Knowledge areas

Mechanical3.2 / 5
Building and Construction3.2 / 5
Public Safety and Security3.0 / 5
English Language2.6 / 5
Mathematics2.6 / 5
Design2.4 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic100
Investigative23
Artistic0
Social0
Enterprising0
Conventional43

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

mine supervisor · DE Aufsichtskraft in Bergwerken · FR superviseur de mine/superviseuse de mine
mining equipment mechanic · DE Berg- und Maschinenmann Fachrichtung Transport und Instandhaltung/Berg und Maschinenfrau Fachrichtung Transport und Instandhaltung · FR mécanicien d’engins de mine/mécanicienne d’engins de mine
surface miner · DE Tagebauarbeiter/Tagebauarbeiterin · FR mineur de surface/mineuse de surface
underground heavy equipment operator · DE Berg- und Maschinenmann/Berg- und Maschinenfrau · FR opérateur d’équipement lourd souterrain/opératrice d’équipement lourd souterrain
underground miner · DE Untertagearbeiter/Untertagearbeiterin · FR mineur de fond/mineuse de fond
bulldozer operator · DE Erdbaumaschinenführer/Erdbaumaschinenführerin · FR conducteur de bulldozer/conductrice de bulldozer

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers (5236)16,800 employed
Mining and quarry workers and related operatives (8132)9,200 employed
Mobile machine drivers and operatives n.e.c. (8229)53,000 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Plant and machine operators and assemblers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Plant and machine operators and assemblers, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€39,630
Netherlands	€37,567
Austria	€37,304
Sweden	€36,005
Germany	€34,433
Ireland	€32,617
France	€28,550
Italy	€28,330
Spain	€24,409
Portugal	€11,309
Poland	€10,259

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

Take the career interests test