Construction and extraction
Continuous mining machine operator
Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, shuttle cars, or trucks in a continuous operation.
Median pay
$61,810
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,400
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Continuous mining machine operator
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Continuous mining machine operator: 47% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
- Drive machines into position at working faces.
- Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.
- Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
- Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
Also called: Bore Miner Operator · Continuous Miner · Continuous Miner Operator (CMO) · Continuous Mining Machine Operator · Continuous Mining Operator (CMO) · Heavy Equipment Operator · Loader Operator · Mine Technician
Outlook and AI
Continuous mining machine operators held 14,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 14,400 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Extraction worker helper
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Crane and tower operators
- Continuous mining machine operator vs. Industrial machinery mechanic