I THINK MINING

Google likes this page and brings it up often to those searching for information about mine wages and salaries.  There is good informatioin in what I wrote when I first posted this piece, so take a look.  But be aware that I have posted more recent information on mine wages at the following link:  http://ithinkmining.com/2012/05/01/2011-wages-for-u-s-metal-and-industrial-mineral-mines/   The posting at this link is about 2011 wages.  What follows is about 2010 wages, so you can also campre and notice increases.  Good luck wiht your salary. 

CostMine has just sent me a copy of the newly released U.S. Metal and Industrial Mineral Mine Salaries, Wages and Benefits – 2010 Survey Results.   As always, this annual production is filled with information about how much people in the U.S.  mining industry make. 

Here is the full set of blog posting on this report:

• US Mining Executives’ Compensation
• 2010 – 2011 Mine Salaries
• 2011 US Mine Wages

Below, I take a look at some wages.  In future postings I will look at salaries and executive compensation.  In these postings, I barely touch on the huge amount of information that the survey collates.  If you need more, I recommend you get your mine’s Human Resources department to get a copy and let you go through the details. 

   Let us start with some averages.  Here is the average hourly base wage in U.S.$s per hour for various job titles.  The first number is wages on small surface mines; the second numbers is wages on large surface mines (more than 100 employees).

• Electrician = 22.63/25.45
• Mechanic =20.92/23.62
• Heavy Equipment Operator = 18.96/22.37
• Driller = 14.99/23.38
• Production Truck Driver = 15.09/20.53
• Laborer = 15.74/18.22

Similar job titles earn only slightly more in underground mines.  For example, an underground miner earns an average of $21.59 on small underground mines and $22.57 on large underground mines.  The ranges are impressive.  For example, the wage range for an underground miner is $14.91 to $37.30.  The range for a laborer at a large underground mine is $13.99 to $30.25. 

Keep in mind that in addition to these wages, there are benefits, which average 42% of wages. 

    How much do they get paid in the mill?  On a large mine, the Mill Equipment Operator wage range is $14.50 to $35.04 with an average of $23.20.  Not too bad. 

   The survey notes that wages have increased only slightly in the past year.  At precious metal mines, the increase is 2.4%; at copper mines also 2.4%; and on “other” metal mines a mere 1.7%.  Still we all have jobs in the mining industry. 

Wages vary depending on whether you work on a precious metal mine, a copper mine, or an “other” metals mine.  Consider the underground mine laborer.   The numbers are $18.04/25.73/15.00.  Big differences!  Copper mines do pay well, but then we need lots of it in a green world.

Then there are industrial mineral and aggregate mines.  Here are wages for the Electrician (first number) and the Production Truck Driver (second number) at different types of mines:

• Limestone Mines = 22.63/13.76
• Aggregate/Sand/Gravel Mines = 20.38/17.05
• Other Industrial Mineral Mines = 24.20/19.82

These are big ranges, from $14 to nearly $40 an hour.  You will no doubt find yourself somewhere in this range—if you are outside of the range, please let me know.  For the rest, I can do no more than urge that your union or employer get the survey and let you delve deep into it.