SOC 47-5022 · Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Scranton, PA

The average salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Scranton, Pennsylvania is $53,000 a year ($25.48 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $56,480: half of the 80 people in this job in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,930).

$53,000average per year

$25.48 / hourMedian $56,480Take-home ≈ $43,138

  • $45K10th
  • $49K25th
  • $56KMedian
  • $56K75th
  • $58K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

80people in this job
-12%vs U.S. average
#5 of 5Pennsylvania metros
94cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay range in Scranton

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,790 or more. The middle half of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Scranton earn between $48,640 and $56,480.

  • $45K10th
  • $49K25th
  • $56KMedian
  • $56K75th
  • $58K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$53,000$4,417$25.48
Median$56,480$4,707$27.15
Entry level (25th percentile)$48,640$4,053$23.38
Experienced (75th percentile)$56,480$4,707$27.15

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay in Scranton vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.

Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Scranton earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($53,930) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($59,930). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $57,430.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Scranton$53,000$56,480$45,150$57,79080
Pennsylvania$53,930$52,350$45,800$60,2201,520
United States$59,930$57,430$41,600$82,40034,480

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary after taxes in Scranton

On the average salary of $53,000, a single filer in Scranton takes home about $43,138 a year, or $3,595 a month and $1,659 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.

Pennsylvania paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Scranton a good place for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Scranton area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.6), so the average $53,000 buys what about $56,651 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Scranton ($46,330). A typical home costs $227,793, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $53,000 is worth in another city

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

Scranton ranks 5th of 5 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($66,430).

All Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salaries in Pennsylvania

Highest-paying cities for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($110,990).

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

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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Scranton: questions

How much do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make an hour in Scranton?

$25.48 an hour on average, and $27.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary in Scranton?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,640, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining take-home pay in Scranton?

About $43,138 a year ($3,595 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,000. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.

Do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn more in Scranton than elsewhere?

The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,930).

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; area Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA (42540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
  • 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.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.37, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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