Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Washington

Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Washington earn the most in Seattle (average $76,920 a year) and the least in Spokane ($62,960), across the 2 Washington metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining average at $71,140 and the median at $64,270 for 640 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $59,930.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining average salary by city in Washington

Seattle$76,920
Spokane$62,960

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Seattle	$76,920	$73,300	$61,920	$62,943	111
Spokane	$62,960	$60,180	$54,830	$52,768	100

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in other states

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary by city and state

More about pay in Washington

Sources and how to read this page

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-5022.
U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

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