How Much Does a Mining Engineering Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$106,220
Mining engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $106,220 a year, or $51.07 an hour. Half of mining engineers earn more than $106,220 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $169,990.
Pay percentiles for mining engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32.45 | $67,490 |
| 25th | $41.00 | $85,280 |
| 50th (median) | $51.07 | $106,220 |
| 75th | $65.67 | $136,590 |
| 90th | $81.73 | $169,990 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers (SOC 17-2151). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for mining engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $158,130 | $76.03 | +49% |
| Oklahoma | $131,660 | $63.30 | +24% |
| Utah | $125,520 | $60.34 | +18% |
| Alaska | $124,630 | $59.92 | +17% |
| Idaho | $123,680 | $59.46 | +16% |
| Wyoming | $119,010 | $57.21 | +12% |
| Florida | $117,500 | $56.49 | +11% |
| Indiana | $113,640 | $54.64 | +7% |
| Illinois | $107,690 | $51.77 | +1% |
| Nevada | $107,500 | $51.68 | +1% |
| United States | $106,220 | $51.07 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many mining engineers are there?
BLS counts about 6,080 mining engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers”. The most jobs are in Arizona (690), Colorado (670) and California (520).
The mean (average) annual wage is $115,410, higher than the median of $106,220.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $8,852
- Biweekly
- $4,085
- Weekly
- $2,043
- Daily (8 hours)
- $409
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do mining engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for mining engineers is $51.07. The middle 50% earn between $41.00 and $65.67 an hour.
Which state pays mining engineers the most?
California has the highest median wage for mining engineers at $158,130, +49% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for mining engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of mining engineers earn less than $67,490 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.