How to become a Continuous Mining Machine Operator

Official title: Continuous Mining Machine Operators

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, Mine Utility Operator, Miner 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.

Main 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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Ways in

• Licence: A licence is required in 9 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $61,810 a year The middle half earn $51,610 to $77,570.
• About 14,000 people work in this job now, and about 14,400 are projected by 2035. (+3.2%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Roof Bolters, Mining
• Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
• Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
• Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
• Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
• Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

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Questions people ask

How much does a Continuous Mining Machine Operator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $61,810 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $51,610 to $77,570.

Is a Continuous Mining Machine Operator a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 14,000 to about 14,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Continuous Mining Machine Operator?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Continuous Mining Machine Operator?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.