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Shuttle car operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$74,500median pay per year, or $35.82 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $52,030lowest 10% earn less
  2. $61,41025th percentile
  3. $74,500median
  4. $79,15075th percentile
  5. $87,730top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Underground mining loading and moving machine operators, the group that includes a shuttle car operator, had a median pay of $74,500 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to fall 15.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-15.8%[2]
Openings per year
400[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do shuttle car operators make?

The official BLS category is Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining. In May 2025 the median wage was $74,500 a year, or $35.82 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean wage was $71,240 a year, or $34.25 an hour[7]. For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980[4].

The pay range runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $52,030 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $61,410[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $79,150, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $87,730[3]. BLS publishes percentile boundaries, not a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][9] $52,030 $25.02
25th percentile[3][9] $61,410 $29.52
Median[1] $74,500 $35.82
75th percentile[3][9] $79,150 $38.05
90th percentile[3][9] $87,730 $42.18

These figures cover wage and salary workers, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[10]. About 5,930 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Among the 20 states with published data, Wyoming was listed first at $112,110, followed by Alaska at $93,130 and Nevada at $82,920[12]. Wyoming and Alaska have very few jobs, with 30 and 50 jobs[12]. Most of the jobs are elsewhere. West Virginia had 1,250 jobs, Nevada 880 and Alabama 510[13]. The median in West Virginia was $74,950 and in Alabama $60,020[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Wheeling, WV-OH had the highest median at $81,100[14]. Beckley, WV followed at $74,130 and Tuscaloosa, AL at $57,730[14]. Beckley had the most metro jobs at 200[15].

Show median pay in 20 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Wyoming[12]$112,11030
Alaska$93,13050
Nevada$82,920880
South Carolina$80,48030
Colorado$79,15070
Virginia$76,900190
Illinois$75,89090
Pennsylvania$75,240n/a
West Virginia$74,9501,250
Arizona$72,430100
Ohio$71,380130
New York$60,890140
Alabama$60,020510
Michigan$59,31080
Missouri$52,040100
Georgia$50,380100
Louisiana$48,670110
Iowa$48,490100
Texas$47,31070
Oklahoma$44,76070

How to become a shuttle car operator

BLS describes a low barrier to entry.

In an ONET survey of 38 workers, 53% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 40% said less than a high school diploma, and 6% said a post-secondary certificate[16]. ONET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means very little to some preparation[17]. The facts do not say how long training lasts or whether any license or safety certification is required.

What shuttle car operators do

These workers run underground machines that load or move coal, ore or rock using shuttle cars, mine cars or conveyors[18]. Typical tasks listed by O*NET include:

Job titles reported by workers include load haul dump operator, ram car operator and coal hauler operator[20].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 15.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,900 to 5,000 jobs, a drop of 900[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[21]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

Even so, openings continue. BLS expects about 400 a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.2% of workers leave the labor force and 6.5% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show pay well above the all-occupation median[1][4] and an entry path with no formal credential and short-term on-the-job training[6]. The tradeoffs are a small job market of about 5,930 jobs[11] and a projected decline of 15.8%[2]. Jobs are also concentrated in a few states[13]. Someone weighing this work may want to check local openings in those places.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a shuttle car operator make an hour?
The median wage for the BLS category was $35.82 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $25.02 and the 90th was $42.18[9].
What education do you need to be a shuttle car operator?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry education[6]. In an O*NET survey of 38 workers, 53% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[16].
Is shuttle car operator work in demand?
BLS projects a 15.8% decline in employment from 2025 to 2035[2], with about 400 openings a year[5].
Which state pays shuttle car operators the most?
Wyoming was listed first at a median of $112,110, but with only 30 jobs[12]. West Virginia had the most jobs at 1,250[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in the US was $74,500 per year and $35.82 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining is projected to decline 15.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,900 to 5,000 jobs (a change of -900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining: 10th percentile $52,030, 25th percentile $61,410, 75th percentile $79,150, 90th percentile $87,730. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 400 openings for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining was $71,240 per year and $34.25 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining: 10th percentile $25.02, 25th percentile $29.52, 75th percentile $38.05, 90th percentile $42.18. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 5,930 people were employed as Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining jobs: West Virginia 1,250; Nevada 880; Alabama 510; Virginia 190; New York 140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (areas with at least 100 jobs): Wheeling, WV-OH $81,100; Beckley, WV $74,130; Tuscaloosa, AL $57,730. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining jobs: Beckley, WV 200 (median $74,130); Wheeling, WV-OH 140 (median $81,100); Tuscaloosa, AL 120 (median $57,730); Baton Rouge, LA 40 (median $47,910); Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 30 (median $80,480). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 47-5044.00 survey of workers (38 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 53%, Less than a High School Diploma 40%, Post-Secondary Certificate 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 47-5044.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 47-5044.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Coal Hauler Operator, Equipment Operator, Load Haul Dump Operator (LHD Operator), Loader Operator, Loading Machine Operator, Miner Operator, Production Miner, Ram Car Operator. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining: 3.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.