The energy transition is spurring interest in the mining industry leaving many to wonder how much do you make working at mine? The U.S. mining industry offers a variety of jobs with competitive pay and benefits according to the latest survey from Costmine Intelligence.
In 2022, Costmine Intelligence surveyed 128 mines in 34 U.S. states, representing over 26,000 employees and uncovered that the job with the highest hourly earning potential is an underground driller.
Of the 128 mines who responded to the survey, 51 industrial minerals, 54 metal mines, and 15 coal mines increased wages by an average of 3.9%, ranging from 1.5% to 20.0%, in the 12 months preceding the survey. Fifteen of the industrial mineral mines and 2 of the metal mines showed no change in wages. None of the mines decreased wages in the last 12 months.Â
Of the 128 mines who responded to the survey, 51 industrial minerals, 54 metal mines, and 15 coal mines increased wages by an average of 3.9%, ranging from 1.5% to 20.0%, in the 12 months preceding the survey. Fifteen of the industrial mineral mines and 2 of the metal mines showed no change in wages. None of the mines decreased wages in the last 12 months.Â
Eighty-four mines offered their employees the opportunity to increase wages through incentive bonus plans. One mine reported offering big game hunting privileges to employees and family as a benefit, while another offered pet insurance.Â
The Latest Industry Insights
Details of these wages, bonus plans, and other benefits are presented in Costmine’s full report, plus more:Â
- Salary summaries for managerial, technical and administrative personnel at 96 coal, metal, and industrial mineral mine and aggregate operations.
- Wage scales listed by job title for hourly workers at 128 coal, metal, and industrial mineral and aggregate mines.
- Executive compensation for over 200 Canadian and American metal, industrial mineral, and coal mining companies, traded on U.S. stock exchanges.
- Benefit plan profiles for each mine.
- Incentive bonus plan descriptions for many new and innovative plans reported by the mines.
- Statistical tables for comparing salaries, wages and benefits among union and non-union mines, eastern and western U.S. mines, surface vs. underground mines and others.
- Workers compensation & unemployment tax rate summaries for mining in all 50 states.
