Crane & Tower Operators vs Mining Machine Operators
Median pay is about $6k higher for Mining Machine Operators. The usual entry education is high school for Crane & Tower Operators and no formal credential for Mining Machine Operators.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Crane & Tower Operators | Mining Machine Operators |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $68,080 | $74,500, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $52,600 | $61,410, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $83,200, higher | $79,150 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +3.8% Growing, higher | -16% Declining |
| Openings a year | 3,500 | 400 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | High school | No formal credential |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.4 / 5 | 2.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 57th pct | 43rd pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.