Here from the new survey by CostMine entitled 2011 Survey Results, U.S. Metal and Industrial Mine Salaries, Wages and Benefits are some salaries. I cannot possibly repeat the copious information in this new survey. Instead I repeat below some of the salaries in jobs and places that interest me, and which I hope interest you. You will need to purchase the full report to get all the salary and wage data.
First the Chief Engineer. The average for all reporting U.S. mines is $98,400. Compare that to the average for the Mine Engineer of $72,700. Averages tell a lot, yet tell little. So consider the range of salaries for Chief Engineers at underground mines in the U.S. which vary from a low of $75,500 to a high of $123,100. The range for the Chief Engineer at surface mines is $70,000 to $131,000. I know the salaries of many a consulting engineer; these on-mine salaries are less than many a consultant to the Chief Engineer is earning. Makes you wonder what makes the average consulting engineer so valuable?
Next consider the Environmental Coordinator. The overall average salary in 2011 at reporting U.S. mines was $79,800. The range on underground mines was from $56,000 to $108,200. The range on surface mines was $50,000 to $116,000. Not much less than the Chief Engineer and certainly equal or greater than the Mine Engineer, which as noted above averaged $72,700 with an overall range of $43,700 to $111,000. Goes to show how significant a profession environmental has become on mines and puts perspective on those who claim mines are not environmentally aware or active.
The salary of the mine personnel manager also tells a story of where focus, attention, and skill are required and exercised. The average salary of a personnel manager in 2011 on U.S. mines was $96,600. The range was $43,800 to $152,000. While the low is lower than the engineers and environmental coordinators, the average and highs are well above the engineer and environmental coordinator. I suppose people are indeed more important than machines or flora and fauna.
Hope these numbers help. Contact me if needed for more specific information that may be applicable to your situation.
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