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Operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets in surface mining sites to strip, excavate, and load loose materials: work according to the excavation plan and elevation markings, inspect and adjust equipment before work, coordinate with haulage and signal personnel, follow safety procedures, and record operations and equipment condition.
A career exploration list that does not constitute a hiring or safety conclusion. The typical U.S. entry in BLS Table 1.2 is a high school diploma or equivalent, less than 5 years of related experience, and moderate on-the-job training; this is not a Chinese requirement or a guarantee of hiring. Equipment, mineral type, shift system, and authorization conditions are verified role by role.
First do the purely paper SM343 material check on this page: compare records A/B/C against the V2 field requirements, verify equipment numbers, times, versions, status, and signatures, and recompute the work volume. The given inputs are complete, so no machine, mine site, or field operation is needed; the result does not demonstrate hands-on ability or safety clearance.
The daily work of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators in surface mining revolves around the work face: operating machinery to strip, excavate, and load according to the excavation plan and elevation markings, inspecting and adjusting equipment before work, coordinating with haul trucks and signal personnel, following slope and rockfall protection requirements, and recording work progress and equipment condition.
U.S. O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00 "Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining": operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets in surface mining sites to excavate and load loose materials; officially listed as Job Zone 1-2 (preparation requirements from little to some).
Mining, urban non-private units 143,361 yuan/year (2025)
Industry proxy value: industry-average scope, covering multiple occupations, cannot replace this occupation's wage.
O*NET 47-5022.00 wages and employment trends｜https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-5022.00; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)｜https://www.bls.gov/oes/; BLS 2025–2035 Employment Projections data｜https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm
| Entry directions | Starting tasks | Evidence you can prepare | Work you can show without experience | Differences to note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment operation apprentice | Complete spot checks, spotting, and simple excavation under supervision | Training operation records and spot check sheets | SM343 purely paper V2 requirement matrix (editorial exercise, does not demonstrate hands-on work) | Support oriented; must focus on spot checks and safety |
| Excavator operator | Complete excavation and loading according to the plan | Work volume records and equipment condition records | SM343 purely paper A/B/C equipment number and version comparison (editorial exercise, does not demonstrate hands-on work) | Excavation oriented; must focus on elevation and the work face |
Operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets at surface mining sites, completing stripping, excavation, and loading of loose materials according to the excavation plan and elevation markings: inspect and adjust equipment before work, coordinate with haulage and signal personnel by signal, follow slope and rockfall protection requirements, and record work volume and equipment condition.
O*NET also lists lubrication, adjustment, repair, and part replacement for this occupation; compare with maintenance roles by main task, and it cannot be said uniformly that operators do not repair. Drilling mainly produces holes or samples, and construction equipment scope may include excavation and loading, so actual overlap and authorization are verified role by role.
The occupational definition follows O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00, corresponding to BLS SOC 47-5022; this round verified the median wage via O*NET, the low and high ends directly via My Next Move, and employment and projections directly against the BLS2025–2035 Table 1.2. The classification name cannot be used to infer Chinese qualifications, and the O*NET old projection cannot be treated as the current table.
Signals worth considering: being able to focus on operating heavy equipment for long periods, willingness to work according to safety procedures and signals, and staying alert in noisy and dusty environments. Signals requiring caution: unwillingness to perform daily inspections and records, difficulty accepting surface work and shift rotation, or expecting the work to be mainly indoor technical design.
This card is a career exploration reference and does not constitute a hiring, competency scoring, or safety conclusion.
First verify the tasks, shift system, equipment, and training conditions; the SM343 paper exercise only observes the record-checking process and cannot verify steady operation, slope judgment, or safety competence. Actual training is confirmed separately against the real site and authorization.
Work context｜This occupation is carried out at surface mine work faces, forming a work loop around equipment inspection, excavation and loading, coordination, and records. Work location｜Surface mines, quarries, and earthworks construction sites. Work conditions｜O*NET records different items such as enclosed vehicles, outdoor environments, contaminants, and vibration; equipment and sites differ, and it cannot be inferred that all roles are the same or that shift systems match China's. Main objects｜Loose materials, work faces and slopes, haul trucks, and loading points. Collaboration｜Work with haul drivers, signal and dispatch personnel, maintenance staff, and site management. Tools and materials｜Heavy equipment such as excavators, draglines, and front-end loaders, excavation plans and elevation markings, and communication signals and work instructions. Institutional basis｜Mine safety procedures, equipment operating procedures, and slope and blasting management requirements. Record requirements｜Work volume, equipment condition, inspection results, and anomalies must be documented as required. Safety boundaries｜O*NET includes lubrication, adjustment, and repair tasks; the scope of actual operation, servicing, blasting, and slope treatment is verified against site regulations, training, and authorization, and this page does not determine clearance.
Mainly equipment operation and excavation and loading
Verify U.S. wages and employment on separate cycles: O*NET shows a 2025 median hourly wage of $27.61 and an annual wage of $57,430; the current BLS Table 1.2 shows employment of about 34,700 in 2025, growth of 1.0% from 2025 to 2035, a net increase of about 400, and about 2,400 annual openings. Openings are not a ten-year total or net new positions.
Read the excavation plan → Inspect the work face and equipment → Start up and trial run → Excavate and strip in sequence → Coordinate loading and haulage → Check elevation and grade → Shut down, inspect, and record
Industry background: the National Bureau of Statistics 2025 mining average, non-private 143,361 yuan/year and private 79,169 yuan/year; this cannot replace nationwide single-occupation wages for this occupation in mainland China.
Mainly equipment spot checks and safety procedure compliance
BLS Table 1.2: SOC 47-5022 grows 1.0% from 2025 to 2035, a net increase of about 400, with about 2,400 annual openings. This round's O*NET summary also shows the 2025–2035 projection; the main industries item now lists mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction and construction for 2025.
Verify the plan and work face → Inspect equipment and devices → Trial run and confirm signals → Excavate and strip → Coordinate loading and haulage → Check elevation and grade → Record at shift end
Jurisdiction boundaries: this round verified the MSHA official equipment defect statement, corresponding to U.S. 30 CFR 56/57.14100 and 77.1606, concerning defect correction, reporting, and records; the direct eCFR page was not obtained. Chinese mine, blasting, and occupational health rules were not comprehensively verified and must be checked separately by locality and specific mineral type; no site determination is provided.
Process records and equipment ledgers: work volume, inspection results, equipment condition, and anomalies must all be documented as required.
Use the O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00 definition as the standard: operating or tending excavating and loading machinery at surface mining sites. Compare with drill, construction equipment, underground loading, and maintenance roles by main objects and outputs; tasks can overlap, and O*NET explicitly lists lubrication, adjustment, repair, and part replacement, so operator maintenance tasks cannot be uniformly excluded. Actual authority is verified by role.
Complete surface mine excavation and loading work according to the plan and record it
O*NET tasks include reading the excavation plan, observing markings and signals, excavating and loading, measuring the working level, and lubricating, adjusting, and repairing equipment; roles may have overlapping tasks. Blasting and mine design are not authorized by this page, and specific responsibility and authorization are verified separately.
Objects are surface work faces and loose materials; the basis is the excavation plan, elevation markings, and safety procedures
Objects include work faces, slopes, and loose materials, as well as haul trucks and loading points; the basis is the excavation plan and elevation markings, equipment operating procedures, communication signals, and mine safety requirements.
Use the O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00 definition as the standard: operating or tending excavating and loading machinery at surface mining sites. Compare with drill, construction equipment, underground loading, and maintenance roles by main objects and outputs; tasks can overlap, and O*NET explicitly lists lubrication, adjustment, repair, and part replacement, so operator maintenance tasks cannot be uniformly excluded. Actual authority is verified by role.
Operate equipment according to the excavation plan and safety procedures to complete excavation and loading
Read the plan → Inspect equipment → Trial run → Excavate and strip → Coordinate loading → Check elevation → Record at shift end
The planned excavation and loading volume actually completed, plus work records
Inspection records, work records, and equipment condition ledgers
Work results are borne by the operators and their team under the equipment and safety systems
Operation, inspection, servicing, and repair tasks are verified against specific training and role authorization; the O*NET task list does not confer authority for equipment servicing, blasting, or slope treatment.
Equipment, mineral type, and jurisdiction differ, and authority is verified role by role
Whether one can operate, measure, or repair independently is verified against actual training and role authorization
Results are affected by work face conditions, equipment condition, and weather
Work records do not constitute a safety permit or a slope stability conclusion
Before starting, verify item by item: which type of equipment is mainly operated (excavator, dragline, front-end loader, or loader); the work face and mineral conditions; the shift system and rotation arrangements; safety training and licensing requirements; dust and noise protection provided; and the equipment spot check and shift handover record system.
Distinguish excavator, dragline, and front-end loader equipment types
Verify the equipment type and operating scope
Confirm whether safety training, licensing, and occupational health examinations are required
Verify safety and health requirements
Confirm the shift system, rotation, and work face conditions
Verify scheduling and working conditions
Confirm the systems and record requirements for spot checks, shift handover, and anomaly reporting
Verify the record and reporting system
Insufficient evidence: no nationwide single-occupation wage for this occupation in mainland China was obtained in this round. The verified National Bureau of Statistics 2025 mining average is non-private 143,361 yuan/year and private 79,169 yuan/year; this is only industry background. Pay verification: confirm the pay method, distinguishing hourly, piece-rate, and output-linked pay.
Verify the pay method and wage basis
Verify local mine safety, occupational health, and environmental requirements and the correspondence with domestic occupational classifications
Verify jurisdiction and occupational classification correspondence
When comparing adjacent directions, first look at the equipment type and work object: excavating and loading machinery at a surface mine, drill rigs, dozing and scraper equipment, underground equipment, or haul trucks; then look at whether the basis is the excavation plan and elevation, the drilling design, earthwork allocation, or haulage dispatch; this occupation's difference lies in operating excavating and loading machinery at a surface work face and being responsible for excavation sequence, elevation, and loading coordination.
The comparison is based on the official definitions and tasks verified in this round for O*NET for this occupation and for drilling 47-5023, construction equipment 47-2073, crane 53-7021, mobile heavy equipment repair 49-3042, heavy truck 53-3032, and underground loading 47-5044. It is only a comparison of main outputs and does not prove individual job transfer, wages, or Chinese qualification conditions.
The following editorial comparison is by official occupational main output; equipment and tasks can overlap, and no mutually exclusive classification or automatic job transfer judgment is made.
Mainly drilling blast holes; this occupation focuses on excavation and loading
Choose that occupation if you prefer drill operation and rock judgment; choose this occupation if you prefer excavation and loading with haulage coordination
Operate drill rigs to complete drilling, sampling, and recording of rock conditions
Drillers (except oil and gas)
Construction equipment roles may use dozing, scraper, excavating, and loading equipment; equipment overlaps with this occupation but the main settings and outputs differ
First verify whether the target is construction earthwork, paving, or structural work, or surface mining; the equipment name alone is not enough
Operate multiple types of construction equipment for earthwork excavation, hauling, and grading, and may also service and repair
Construction Equipment Operators (including dozing and scraper equipment)
Mainly lifting and installation; this occupation focuses on excavation and loading
Choose that occupation if you prefer lifting work; choose this occupation if you prefer excavation and loading work
Operate cranes to complete lifting, positioning, and installation
Crane and Tower Operators
Maintenance roles focus on diagnosis, repair, or overhaul; this occupation may also include maintenance tasks, so compare by main responsibility
Choose that occupation if you prefer servicing and maintenance; choose this occupation if you prefer field operation and work coordination
Diagnose and repair mechanical and hydraulic faults in heavy equipment
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics
Mainly hauling and dumping; this occupation focuses on loading and excavation
Choose that occupation if you prefer driving haul vehicles; choose this occupation if you prefer operating excavating and loading equipment
Drive heavy or tractor-trailer vehicles to haul materials; mine-specific vehicle classification and authority must be verified separately and cannot be uniformly equated with the U.S. heavy truck occupation
Heavy Truck Drivers (haulage comparison)
Mainly underground equipment operation; this occupation works at surface work faces
Choose that occupation if you prefer an underground working environment; choose this occupation if you prefer surface work faces
Operate loading and haulage equipment underground to complete ore drawing
Underground Loading and Haulage Equipment Operators
Compare in this order: first the equipment type and work object, then whether the basis is the excavation plan, drilling design, earthwork allocation, or haulage dispatch.
Students currently studying or preparing to enter the field
First practice basic equipment operation and pre-work spot checks, understand the excavation plan, elevation, and communication signals, and complete one excavation and loading cycle in practical training or under supervision.
Operators just starting out
Standardize the pre-shift spot check, work, and shift handover record process, write equipment anomalies and work face changes clearly, and ask a mentor to review.
Practicing operators
Use AI for equipment material search and for organizing spot check and work records, while retaining human confirmation and field observation, and report anomalies according to procedure.
Team leaders and site managers
First clarify work face clearance, blasting warning, and equipment spot check rules, then decide in which low-risk steps to use digital tools, while retaining operating and safety responsibility.
Editorial candidates: material search, record drafts, and statistical recomputation can be trialed with assistance and verified item by item. Insufficient evidence: no measured data on AI adoption rates, benefits, task time shares, or job change for this occupation was obtained. The ILO 2023 study assesses global potential task exposure and does not prove that the impact on this occupation is limited or that the occupation is augmented as a whole; lacking a reviewable scoring basis, no score is given.
O*NET OnLine：Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining（47-5022.00）
Occupational tasks and work activities
O*NET 47-5022.00 wages and employment trends (citing BLS data)
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Wage distribution and statistical scope
ILO Working Paper 96: Generative AI and Jobs (2023)
International research on task exposure
NIST Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)
AI risk and governance framework
BLS occupational employment projections Table 1.2
Projection methodology and statistical scope
O*NET surface mining equipment operation detailed occupational profile
Tools, technology, and preparation level
Different work directions are affected in different ways; three categories are distinguished below: work planning and equipment spot checks, field operation and coordination, and records and handover.
Material search and record drafts can be trialed with assistance (editorial judgment)
Work face judgment, equipment operation, and safety responsibility
Monitoring data summary can be a candidate; adoption or early-warning effectiveness has not been verified
Anomaly judgment, shutdown decisions, and field handling
Spot check and work record drafts can be assisted
Record confirmation, anomaly reporting, and handover responsibility
The following evidence cards correspond respectively to international organizations' task exposure research, official occupational materials, and governance frameworks; read them according to their own research objects and limitations, and do not merge them into a single conclusion.
Based on a task-classification method, not data on actual firm adoption or job change
ILO Working Paper 96 (2023)
Global assessment of generative AI exposure at the employment and task levels
Most jobs are only partially exposed at the task level, and generative AI is more likely to augment than to fully replace; clerical tasks are the most exposed, while managerial and professional occupations have a lower share of highly exposed tasks. The study suggests the main effects are on job quality and intensity rather than the disappearance of whole jobs.
Describes occupational scope and contains no AI adoption or productivity data
O*NET OnLine（47-5022.00）
Official occupational task and work activity descriptions
O*NET lists tasks such as equipment operation, observation, measurement, repair, and signal coordination, and does not give task time shares or AI adoption, benefits, or causal outcomes.
Projections are based on assumptions and are not actual outcomes
U.S. employment trend for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators
Current BLS Table 1.2: employment growth of 1.0%, a net increase of about 400, and about 2,400 annual openings. The occupation row gives no AI contribution, so the all-factor projection is not read as an AI causal result.
Wage statistics, excluding individual contract pay
BLS OEWS (2025 median, presented via O*NET)
U.S. wage distribution for 47-5022.00
The 2025 median annual wage is $57,430 (median hourly wage $27.61); the 10th and 90th percentiles are about $41,600 and $82,400 (presented via My Next Move, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor); use these to understand magnitude and scope, not to infer AI's effect on wages.
Governance framework, containing no occupational or employment data
NIST AI RMF 1.0 (voluntary framework)
AI system risk governance framework (voluntary adoption)
NIST AI RMF 1.0 is a voluntary risk framework; the review, record-keeping, and authority reminders in this text are editorial application suggestions, not uniform regulations for mine roles or employment evidence.
This column answers only technical handleability: compare this occupation's tasks (equipment material search, organizing spot check and work records, monitoring data summary, etc.) with public occupational task and technology materials to judge which subtasks can be completed by off-the-shelf tools. Technical handleability does not mean the institution has already adopted it, nor that jobs will decrease; when judging, distinguish task-level evidence from occupation-level conclusions.
Insufficient evidence: no institutional AI adoption survey, coverage, or benefit data for this occupation was obtained. Editorial suggestion: trial record drafts only under clear material permissions and output validation conditions; the applicability of specific equipment monitoring, early warning, and control must be verified against the actual system, and general use is not assumed.
The current BLS 2025–2035 occupational projection shows 1.0% growth and about 2,400 annual openings. Insufficient evidence: no AI-caused job change amount or replacement year for this occupation was obtained, and the all-factor projection or the concept of automation is not treated as AI causation.
Insufficient evidence: no measured conclusion that this occupation as a whole has been augmented or replaced was obtained. The ILO global potential task exposure is only a methodological reference, and managerial and professional category results cannot be extrapolated to surface mining machinery operation; assisted candidates are an editorial judgment.
ILO Working Paper 96 (2023); O*NET 47-5022.00 task data
This occupation is mainly field equipment operation, and O*NET lists it as Job Zone 1-2 (preparation requirements from little to some); whether digital tools are needed depends on the mine, but at minimum you must be able to read the excavation plan and signal requirements and fill in spot check and work records according to the system.
O*NET 47-5022.00 technical skills and preparation level
Editorial candidates are search, record drafts, and data recomputation. Insufficient evidence: no ranking of AI impact strength or actual benefits for this occupation was obtained; O*NET states that the tasks exist and cannot prove that a given task is most easily changed by AI.
ILO Working Paper 96 (2023); O*NET task data
The BLS2025–2035 projection shows 1.0% growth, a net increase of about 400, and about 2,400 annual openings including replacement needs; this is not a current hiring figure, a definite outcome, or an AI contribution.
BLS current occupational projections Table 1.2; AI causation not verified
Tool output cannot by itself become a safety, equipment condition, or clearance conclusion. Editorial suggestion: verify the confirmation method against the real system, site procedures, training, and authorization; who may decide or sign is verified role by role, and this page makes no uniform qualification determination.
NIST voluntary risk framework; field authority verified separately
Insufficient evidence: no basis for an AI replacement year or job disappearance for this occupation was obtained. The BLS occupational projection is not AI causation, and ILO potential exposure does not prove definite task change, so no disappearance year is given.
BLS occupational projections; ILO task exposure methodology; replacement year not verified
Prioritize learning two things: first, build solid basics in equipment operation, pre-work spot checks, and communication signals; second, become familiar with the basic requirements of the excavation plan, elevation control, and slope rockfall risk; also master mine safety procedures and dust and noise protection, and be able to fill in spot check and work records according to the system.
O*NET 47-5022.00 task and work activity data
When using digital tools to assist with work in this occupation, it is recommended to confirm boundaries and responsibility in the following order:
First confirm the work plan, work face clearance, and delivery requirements, and judge which steps can use tools.
Make clear that tools handle only monitoring data summaries, material search, and record organization, and do not replace operation and shutdown decisions.
Check tool output item by item for equipment condition, work face conditions, and alarm information, and have experienced personnel confirm it.
Record the tool name, version, inputs, and human confirmation to ensure the work process is traceable.
Operation, shutdown, and emergency authority are verified against specific site regulations, training, and authorization; tool output does not create a safety permit.
Monitoring or statistical output may contain incorrect values
Check item by item against equipment gauges and field observation; anomalies must be confirmed by a person
Equipment and work data are institutional materials
Use according to mine permissions; sensitive production data must not be submitted to external tools
The work process must be traceable, otherwise it cannot be reviewed
Record the tool name, version, inputs, and confirmation results, and keep spot check and work records
Misjudging equipment condition may cause breakdowns or accidents
Verify against the spot check sheet and alarm information; shut down and report when anomalies occur
Records and reporting require clear ownership of responsibility
Clarify the reviewer and handover rules; unconfirmed results must not be used as a basis for handover
Confirmation responsibility for the work plan and work face clearance is verified against the specific unit's rules
Work plan and work face confirmation
Work planning and equipment spot checks
Plan and material organization can be assisted (editorial judgment)
Equipment operation and excavation and loading are the operators' responsibility
Equipment operation and excavation and loading
Field operation and coordination
Monitoring data summary can be assisted (editorial judgment)
Anomaly judgment and shutdown authority are verified against specific procedures and authorization
Equipment condition judgment and anomaly handling
Field operation and coordination
Alarm prompts can be assisted, but must be confirmed on site (editorial judgment)
O*NET includes a task of measuring the working level; who confirms elevation and grade is verified against the actual role's rules
Elevation and grade checks
Work planning and equipment spot checks
Organizing inspection records can be assisted (editorial judgment)
Responsibility for safety procedure compliance rests with the team and the operators
Safety and slope protection
Field operation and coordination
Safety material search can be assisted (editorial judgment)
Responsibility for spot check and handover records rests with the operators and the team
Spot check and handover records
Records and handover
Record compilation can be assisted (editorial judgment)
O*NET operation tasks include lubrication, adjustment, and repair; authority relative to maintenance roles is verified by specific role
Equipment maintenance and repair
Records and handover
Maintenance reminders and ledger organization can be assisted (editorial judgment)
The above are task-level judgments and evidence boundaries and do not represent a definite prediction of job numbers.
Mining, urban private units 79,169 yuan/year (2025)
Private-unit industry proxy: differs from the non-private scope for the same industry and must not be mixed.
Insufficient evidence: no nationwide occupational wage statistic for this occupation in mainland China was obtained in this round
Job scope: responsibility boundaries and statistical classification must be verified by industry and region.
Monthly salary, annual salary, and piece-rate bases must not be mixed
Pay unit: piece-rate or output-linked wages and fixed monthly salaries cannot be compared directly.
Verify against the source's publication period; do not merge different years
Statistical period: industry averages from different years cannot be compared directly.
Industry scope covers multiple occupations
Industry coverage: an industry average cannot replace this occupation's wage.
Work locations differ, so verify specific offer conditions; a national industry average does not represent a mine site
Regional differences: a national average does not represent a specific mine.
A recruitment quote is a single-employer sample and does not constitute an occupational median
Sample boundary: do not substitute a single quote for occupational wages.
Editorial candidate: material and record tools may change work processes. Insufficient evidence: no measured wage or demand change caused by AI for this occupation in China was obtained.
Scope note: industry average wages cover multiple occupations and cannot replace this occupation's wage distribution.
High school or secondary vocational school (mechanical, mining, or related fields)
Equipment operation apprentice and assistant positions
Spot check and record tasks can be explored; hands-on work and role requirements must be verified separately (editorial suggestion)
Higher vocational or associate degree (mining, mechanical, or related fields)
Operation roles for various excavating and loading equipment
Planning and value records can be explored, but education does not establish the ability to operate independently
Relevant equipment or servicing experience (editorial comparison)
Complex work face operation, mentoring, and team leader roles
Complex tasks or mentoring can be explored, but team leader appointment cannot be assumed
Cross-disciplinary (mechanical plus mine safety)
Equipment spot check, safety supervision, and dispatch support roles
Verify equipment, tasks, and regulatory conditions role by role; a cross-disciplinary label does not confer safety supervision authority
Machinery operation demand for surface mine stripping and extraction
Operation demand in equipment rental and engineering services
National Bureau of Statistics: average wage of urban unit employees (broad industry category, publication index)｜https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/
Mining and Quarrying (industry proxy)
Insufficient evidence: no nationwide wage statistic for mainland China precisely corresponding to this occupation was obtained in this round; the mining industry average below is only background and it is not asserted that the official source has never established an occupational statistic.
The following uses the average wage of the "Mining and Quarrying" industry as an industry background proxy, which cannot replace this occupation's wage; if you see a recruitment figure, first verify whether it is hourly, piece-rate, output-linked, or an allowance-inclusive basis.
National Bureau of Statistics: 2025 average wage of urban unit employees (Mining and Quarrying)｜https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202605/t20260515_1963707.html
Do not substitute an industry average wage or a single recruitment quote for this occupation's wage.
Nationwide (industry proxy)
Insufficient evidence: no nationwide monthly or annual single-occupation wage statistic precisely corresponding to this occupation in mainland China was obtained; this page provides only the industry average wage as background (non-private 143,361 yuan/year, private 79,169 yuan/year, 2025), which cannot be converted into a monthly salary for a specific role.
Insufficient evidence: no wage statistic or representative current recruitment pay sample for this occupation in first-tier cities was obtained; single-employer quotes must be verified for work location, date, hours, allowances, and pay method, and cannot be broadly described as mostly piece-rate or output-linked.
Insufficient evidence: no verifiable monthly wage statistic for this occupation in other cities was obtained; differences among mining areas and enterprises are large and must be verified by work location.
Editorial search direction: target roles can be found by surface mining, quarrying, and equipment tasks; the U.S. occupational classification cannot prove the distribution share or one-to-one correspondence of roles in China.
Notes on U.S. O*NET and BLS statistical scope｜https://www.bls.gov/oes/
Growth of 1.0% (2025–2035)
Median annual wage $57,430 (2025, BLS OEWS, presented via O*NET)
Salary · 10th percentile｜Below $41,600/year; national 10th percentile for the exact occupation (47-5022.00)｜not an entry-level starting wage.
Insufficient evidence: this percentile could not be directly verified in this round
Salary · 25th percentile｜Insufficient evidence: this percentile could not be directly verified in this round; no adjacent occupation or interpolation was substituted｜kept as a gap, no value filled in.
Salary · Median｜$57,430/year; median hourly wage $27.61 (2025, BLS OEWS)｜half of workers earn below and half above this value.
Insufficient evidence: this percentile could not be directly verified in this round
Salary · 75th percentile｜Insufficient evidence: this percentile could not be directly verified in this round; no adjacent occupation or interpolation was substituted｜kept as a gap, no value filled in.
Salary · 90th percentile｜Above $82,400/year; national 90th percentile for the exact occupation｜does not represent continuous paid hours or total income.
About 34,700 people (2025, BLS projection base)
Employment was about 34,700 in 2025, the BLS projection base, and is verified separately from the wage program coverage; BLS Table 1.2 (2025–2035)｜https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm
Growth of 1.0% from 2025 to 2035, a net increase of about 400 in the table, with each column rounded independently; BLS Table 1.2 (2025–2035)｜https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm
About 2,400 annual openings from 2025 to 2035, including growth and replacement needs and not a ten-year total; BLS Table 1.2 (2025–2035)｜https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm
U.S. SOC 47-5022 / O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00 data do not represent China. Insufficient evidence: access to the occupation-level OEWS page failed in this round, so the 25/75 percentiles and the industry median wage were not obtained, and it is not asserted that the official source has never published them.
The U.S. 2025 median hourly wage of $27.61 and annual wage of $57,430 are presented by O*NET; this round directly verified the My Next Move low/high ends of $41,600 and $82,400. BLS Table 1.2: employment of about 34,700 in 2025, 1.0% growth from 2025 to 2035, a net increase of about 400, and about 2,400 annual openings. None of these indicators is an individual's pay or hiring probability.
The median and the percentiles are positions in the wage distribution of workers within the same statistical period, not starting salaries; individual income depends on mineral type, region, shift system, and pay method.
The current BLS 2025–2035 projection shows 1.0% growth and a net increase of about 400; about 2,400 annual openings include growth and replacement needs, and it is not claimed that they mainly come from replacement or form a ten-year total.
Employment and growth
Training and experience affect which equipment types and work face difficulty you can operate, but licenses or authorization cannot be inferred directly from the occupation title.
Growth of 1.0% (2025–2035)
Insufficient evidence: no industry-specific median wage for this occupation was obtained in this round
O*NET lists mining and quarrying as a main industry but does not give a median wage for that industry
Insufficient evidence: no industry-specific median wage for this occupation was obtained in this round
O*NET lists construction as a main industry but does not give a median wage for that industry
Insufficient evidence: no industry-specific median wage for this occupation was obtained in this round
The O*NET page verified in this round does not provide an industry-specific median wage
Insufficient evidence: no industry-specific median wage for this occupation was obtained in this round
The O*NET page verified in this round does not provide an industry-specific median wage
No. The median is the midpoint of the wage distribution of workers within the same statistical period, not a starting salary; the O*NET and My Next Move pages verified in this round do not provide the 25th and 75th percentiles, and this page does not substitute adjacent occupations or interpolation.
It cannot simply be extrapolated. Hourly wages are paid by the hour, and annual income also depends on weeks worked, overtime, and shift system; the median hourly wage and median annual wage cannot be converted directly into an individual's take-home income.
This round O*NET verified the 2025 median wage and the employment 2025—2035 summary; My Next Move verified the low and high ends; BLS Table 1.2 verified the exact growth, net increase, and annual average openings. Records of failed historical access to occupation-level OEWS do not represent the current official publication status; the 25/75 percentiles and industry wages were not obtained in this round.
Mineral type, region, shift system, equipment type, and pay method (hourly, piece-rate, output-linked) all affect actual income; wage bases from different sources must not be mixed.
$57,430/year (median hourly wage $27.61, 2025)
Low end: the 10th percentile is about $41,600/year, at the low end of the distribution, not an entry-level starting wage.
Median: $57,430/year (median hourly wage $27.61, 2025); half of workers earn below and half above this value.
The high end of $82,400/year is the upper part of the U.S. wage distribution and is not guaranteed income corresponding to seniority, mineral type, or equipment type.
The official interest code is RC (Realistic-Conventional), consistent with this job's work activities: Realistic corresponds to equipment operation and field work, and Conventional to spot checks and records according to procedures. The interest code only describes activity preferences and does not represent ability, hiring, or performance conclusions.
Official occupational interest code (O*NET)
Treating "driving big machines" itself as the main motivation; if you do not accept surface work, shift rotation, and spot check records, the bulk of the daily work will be hard to sustain.
Insufficient evidence: this page obtained no Big Five personality–performance validation data for this occupation, and trait scores are not used to predict hiring or safety performance. Editorial observation suggestion: note whether the person can verify materials as required, document, and accept review.
Personality model (not an occupational standard)
Treating personality test results as an occupational conclusion, or ruling yourself out on that basis.
The occupational interest information on this page comes from O*NET's interest code RC for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (47-5022.00); it describes work activity preferences, not individual assessment results, and cannot be used to infer suitability or hiring likelihood.
This page obtained no verification basis for MBTI predicting performance in this occupation; it can be used to organize preferences but cannot confer ability or safety conclusions. Use the SM343 paper records to observe material checking, and hands-on work requires separate training.
Realistic (R) — oriented to equipment operation and field work; Conventional (C) — oriented to spot checks and records according to procedures.
Personality preference framework (not an occupational standard)
RC (Realistic-Conventional)
Using a type label to explain why you are not suited to operating heavy equipment or field work.
The Enneagram is a self-reflection tool. More practical questions for this job are: can you stay alert during long repetitive work and shut down and report faithfully when equipment anomalies occur; these questions can be tested directly through practical training and internship experience.
Personality framework (not an occupational standard)
Treating a type description as proof of occupational fit.
O*NET lists tasks such as spatial observation, equipment control, and signal coordination, and Job Zone 1–2 does not prove low ability requirements. Spatial or reasoning scales cannot alone determine operability; first do the SM343 paper check, and actual ability must be observed through approved training.
Official occupational knowledge requirements (O*NET)
Treating a single test result as the ceiling of your ability.
O*NET lists tasks such as signal coordination. Editorial observation suggestion: see whether the person can explain the records and the items awaiting confirmation. No basis was obtained for emotional intelligence scales predicting performance in this occupation, so scale scores are not set as a threshold.
General competency framework
Substituting high or low emotional intelligence for verifying operating and safety competence.
The following is a work style observation checklist and does not constitute a personality diagnosis, competency score, or safety conclusion; occupational judgments must still be verified against real tasks, training requirements, and safety conditions.
The point is not whether you "like machinery," but whether you can stay alert over long repetitive work, confirm equipment against the spot check sheet, and accept shift handover review. Interest and personality frameworks can only suggest what to observe; they cannot replace verification through real tasks.
Prefers drill operation and rock judgment while being willing to add equipment maintenance knowledge
The main drilling outputs are holes, samples, or drilling records; maintenance and other tasks are also included, and task overlap is not excluded by occupation name
Construction Equipment Operators
Prefers multiple types of engineering equipment and earthwork allocation
Would rather do construction earthwork than mine stripping and loading
Crane and Tower Operators
Prefers lifting and installation work
Would rather do lifting than excavation and loading
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Prefers in-site material handling and loading and unloading
Would rather do in-site hauling than mine excavation and loading
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Prefers continuous mining equipment and seam control
Would rather operate continuous mining equipment than single-bucket excavation and loading
Prefers working near water or underwater
Would rather do waterway dredging than surface mine excavation
The interest code RC describes activity preferences, not individual ability or a hiring prediction. The SM343 on this page only observes the record-checking process and cannot verify excavation and loading, safety, or hands-on ability.
Whether programming or system skills are needed is verified against the real role; the O*NET technology list does not prove that the whole occupation uniformly requires no programming. First verify the plan, signal, record, and equipment interface requirements.
More precisely, what is needed is safety communication and coordination ability: verifying signals with haul drivers and signal personnel, reporting anomalies faithfully, and stating equipment condition clearly at shift handover. These abilities can be observed and trained through concrete exercises; they are not personality thresholds.
Suitability depends on tasks, not personality labels. This job involves a great deal of independent operating time and also requires communicating with haulage, signal, and maintenance personnel. Being introverted is not an obstacle, but if you completely reject signal coordination and shift handover requirements, the work experience will suffer.
U.S. O*NET education survey: high school 71%, less than high school 23%, postsecondary certificate 6%; the typical BLS Table 1.2 entry is a high school diploma or equivalent, less than 5 years of related experience, and moderate on-the-job training. Insufficient evidence: no representative education or general licensing basis for this occupation in China was obtained, so verify role by role.
Those lacking hands-on experience can first do the SM343 paper material check, then verify real training and the target role's conditions; this page cannot guarantee employability, independent operation, or a general growth timeline.
Editorial comparison: a mechanical background should verify work tasks, plans, and signals; a construction background should verify mineral and equipment differences. Specific gaps are compared item by item against the target role's requirements, and it is not guaranteed that both routes are viable.
Insufficient evidence: no data on the hiring advantage of supervised practical training versus coursework for this occupation was obtained, so no general superiority conclusion is drawn. Practical training can provide concrete operating and record observation; first verify the training conditions and authorization.
In the U.S. O*NET survey, 81% reported working more than 40 hours per week; 65% reported spending every day in enclosed vehicle equipment, 64% every day outdoors in all weather, 75% every day exposed to contaminants, and 71% every day exposed to vibration. These are different items and cannot be used to infer Chinese shift systems, exposure in all roles, or adequate protection.
First do the SM343 paper check and gap handover; record process preferences and the hands-on items awaiting verification, and do not seek real equipment to complete this page's exercise.
Willing to repeatedly adjust the operating approach for work face conditions
Can shut down and report first when equipment anomalies or slope changes occur, rather than continuing at risk
Accepts a work rhythm centered on field operation, spot checks, and handover records, where output is mostly work volume rather than plans
Used to verify this occupation's identity, task scope, and preparation level
Used to verify tasks, work activities, and technology tools
Used to verify the scope of U.S. wage and employment statistics
Used to verify wage distribution and statistical scope
U.S. local training information entry point; cannot verify Chinese education or qualification requirements
U.S. certification information entry point; does not prove a nationwide license for this occupation or Chinese qualification requirements
Used to verify the U.S. wage and employment trend page
Used to verify work context, interests, and work styles data
This page does not determine work face clearance, blasting warning, slope stability, equipment serviceability, or occupational health fitness. Task authority is verified against the real jurisdiction, mineral type, equipment, training, and role authorization, and cannot be inferred from an occupation name or paper performance.
Editorial risk note: work face, equipment defect, signal, and record errors must all be verified against real site materials, and no risk reduction magnitude or uniform operating procedure is given. O*NET describes tasks and situations, and the MSHA page only supports the corresponding U.S. equipment defect provisions.
The following are editorial verification reminders combining O*NET tasks, the MSHA U.S. equipment defect statement, and the voluntary NIST framework; they are not a complete site procedure, Chinese requirements must be verified separately, and no equipment, health, or safety determination is given.
Work face and slope conditions
May lead to rockfall, landslides, or equipment rollover
Verify the site work face and slope assessment materials, the responsible person, and the applicable scope; this page does not provide stability judgments or excavation steps
Work face condition changes not detected
Equipment condition and spot checks
May lead to breakdowns, loss of control, or personal injury
Verify the real equipment defect records, handling status, and authorization; the U.S. MSHA statement concerns defect correction and records, and complete records are not treated as proof of serviceability
Equipment hazards not identified during spot checks
Steps using digital tools
May lead to misjudgment due to incorrect data
Verify the monitoring data source, timing, and confirmation authority; tool prompts do not automatically prove equipment condition
Treating monitoring output directly as an equipment condition conclusion
Dust, noise, and vibration
May lead to occupational health risks
Verify the employer's occupational hazard assessment, applicable protection, and health arrangements; this page does not specify protection or medical examination plans
Inadequate protection provided or not used as required
Signal coordination and shift handover
May lead to collisions or misoperation
Verify the real role's signal system, communication, and handover responsibility; paper records do not authorize field operation
Unclear signals or missing handover information
Blasting warnings and adjacent operations
May enter hazardous areas
Verify site warnings, communication, and clearance authority; this page does not determine which areas may be entered
Warning boundaries or communication rules not confirmed
O*NET U.S. task scope for this occupation, not a measured AI effect or regulation; duplicate stable O*NET IDs are retained, and the card uses a single unique detailed task entry point.
Used to verify occupational tasks and work activities
Used to verify international organizations' task exposure research
NIST voluntary risk framework reference, not uniform role supervision regulation
Used to verify the scope of U.S. wage and employment trends
| Dragline or front-end loader operator |
| Complete stripping and loading according to work face conditions |
| Equipment operation records and shift handover records |
| SM343 purely paper chronological recomputation (editorial exercise, does not demonstrate hands-on work) |
| Equipment-type oriented; must focus on working condition judgment |
| Team support and dispatch support | Assist with work organization and signal and haulage coordination | Work records and communication records | SM343 purely paper summary of the 40-ton versus 5-ton difference (editorial exercise, does not demonstrate hands-on work) | Organization oriented; must focus on communication and safety |
| Equipment spot check and maintenance support | Assist with daily spot checks and basic servicing | Spot check and servicing records | SM343 purely paper open items and handover (editorial exercise, does not demonstrate hands-on work) | Maintenance oriented; must focus on procedures and records |
Employer requirements: education and training
Verify education or vocational training requirements and on-the-job training arrangements, and record the posting date and whether it is still open.
Distinguish "being able to drive the equipment" from "being able to work according to plans and procedures"; years of experience do not substitute for safety competence.
Employer requirements: safety and health requirements
Verify whether safety training, operating qualifications, occupational health examinations, and protective equipment are required.
Record the requirements and their validity; cross-mine-site or cross-equipment moves require re-verification.
O*NET preparation level
Job Zone 1-2 (preparation requirements from little to some); in the educational attainment survey, about 71% reported needing a high school diploma or equivalent.
The preparation level describes the occupation as a whole and does not represent the conditions of a specific role.
Employer requirements: equipment and systems
Verify the required equipment types (excavator, dragline, front-end loader) and whether operating monitoring or dispatch systems is required.
List the actual usage scenarios; do not substitute an equipment list for operating ability.
Material One: the SM343 fictional material pack
A purely paper exercise. V2 record requirements: equipment number SM343, the same date 2026-10-01, version V2, inspection time no later than the handover time of 08:00, an explicit status, and a complete responsible-person signature field; V1 is superseded. These are only the stated record rules, not site spot check standards.
A: SM343, V2, 07:40, status field "no anomaly recorded," signature field empty; B: SM343, V1, 07:30, status field "no anomaly recorded," signature field Chen; C: SM334, V2, 08:10, status field "alarm pending verification," signature field Li. All three dates are 2026-10-01.
Fictional work volume ledger: 12 tons recorded at 07:00, 15 tons at 07:20, and 13 tons at 07:50; the summary field says 45 tons. There is no actual weighing or value calibration material.
Compare only the stated text, versions, and times, and recompute the ledger; no site inspection, geological, weather, process, or defect handling results may be invented.
Checkable output: the five-item A/B/C comparison, the work volume recomputation, and the missing items and handover; do not judge slope, warning, equipment serviceability, or excavation sequence.
All inputs are original fiction and are not process procedures, safety standards, a real spot check sheet, or work authorization.
Material Two: explicit deliverables
Verify the equipment number, version, time, status, and signature item by item; calculate the difference between the three tonnage entries and the 45-ton summary; write a handover within 100 characters, distinguishing what meets the stated requirements, unverified information, and real-world clearance.
Deliver a three-row verification table, the calculation, and a gap list; do not start machines, visit the mine site, or perform field operations.
Material Three: reference answers
A's equipment number, version, and time meet the stated requirements, with 07:40 being 20 minutes earlier than 08:00; the status is filled in but "no anomaly recorded" does not equal no defect, and the signature is missing; B's version V1 does not match, and its other fields are comparable as stated; C's equipment number does not match, 08:10 is 10 minutes late, and the alarm awaits verification, so having a signature cannot be read as the alarm being handled.
12+15+13=40 tons, and the 45-ton summary is 5 tons more. The actual weighing and calibration materials are missing, so 40 tons is only a recomputation of the stated ledger and does not prove real output; A/B/C cannot be used to determine site clearance from this exercise.
Reference handover: the SM343 materials are verified against V2; A lacks a signature, B uses superseded V1, and C has the wrong equipment number and is 10 minutes late with the alarm pending verification; the ledger should be 40 tons, and the summary is 5 tons more. Weighing and handling materials were not provided, and the recorded results do not approve field work.
Material Four: boundary statement
This exercise only verifies material checking, recomputation, and handover; it does not provide start-up, travel, bucket, excavation, or safety handling steps. The site, guidance, equipment, and authorization conditions for real training must be verified separately.
Work sample One: V2 requirement comparison
List the equipment number, date, version, time, status, and signature requirements, and mark V1 as superseded.
If job postings are found separately, note the date and status; without reading a real posting, do not claim a recruitment sample.
Work sample Two: three-row verification
Compare A/B/C and recompute A being 20 minutes early, C being 10 minutes late, and 40 tons / 5 tons more.
Do not treat a filled status, a signature, or correct arithmetic as site conformity.
Work sample Three: handover summary
Explain that A lacks a signature, B uses an old version, C has the wrong number with the alarm pending verification, and the ledger has a discrepancy.
Keep the weighing, calibration, and handling material gaps, and do not invent real results.
Work sample Four: tool boundaries
State that you used only pen and paper or a spreadsheet to check records, keeping the prompt's V2 and human recomputation.
No equipment was used and no mine site was visited; no hands-on work or mentor signature is fabricated.
| Scenario | Questions that may be asked | Evidence you can present | Conclusions that cannot be inferred from this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | Whether you can explain the spot check items and the key points of work face judgment. | Check whether the spot check and safety processes are written clearly. | Whether to hire is judged by the employer and the role, not determined by the candidate. |
| Practical test or trial operation | Whether you can complete one excavation and loading cycle under supervision. | Use operating performance and records to show compliance. | A trial operation does not represent long-term output or the full range of ability. |
| Probation period | Whether you can perform spot checks according to procedures and accept shift handover review. | Use spot check and work records to show compliance. | Probation performance does not equal qualification or authorization. |
| After onboarding | Whether you can handle anomalies according to safety procedures and report them. | Use anomaly records and reporting records to show compliance. | Following procedures does not replace site safety permits. |
Day 1: read the V2 requirements
List the six fields and the V1 voiding condition.
Day 2: check A
Verify that 07:40 is 20 minutes early, and mark the missing signature and the status evidence boundary.
Day 3: check B
Mark V1 as superseded and keep the other comparable stated fields.
Day 4: check C
Verify that SM334 does not match, that 08:10 is 10 minutes late, and that the alarm is unverified.
Day 5: recompute the ledger
Write 12+15+13=40 tons and that the 45-ton summary is 5 tons more; do not infer real output.
Day 6: independent review
Ask someone to recompute only from the prompt; if no feedback is obtained, note that and check the result yourself with a counterexample.
Day 7: write your choice judgment
Submit the revised handover, recording your process preference for checking materials and the hands-on, training, and role conditions still to be verified.
| Qualification/preparation item | Who it applies to | Role for this occupation | Whether it is generally required | Conditions and investment | Magnitude of investment | What it cannot replace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent (U.S. statistics) | Those verifying the typical U.S. entry point | BLS typical education item | Does not infer general education conditions in China | Target employer conditions must be verified separately | No uniform program length is given for this occupation | Education does not prove operating or safety competence |
| Related experience and on-the-job training | Those verifying the typical U.S. entry point | Per BLS, less than 5 years of related experience and moderate on-the-job training | U.S. statistics; not a guarantee of entry with zero experience | Employer training and assessment are verified item by item | Do not infer a uniform duration from the Job Zone range | Experience or duration does not prove ability and authorization |
| Local safety training conditions | Those exploring real mine site roles | Verify jurisdiction, mineral type, and task requirements | This page did not comprehensively verify applicable conditions in China | Read the applicable regulations and employer's original text | No uniform hours or cost for this occupation were obtained | Does not replace site clearance or safety assessment |
| Operating qualification or skill level | Those whose postings genuinely require it | Verify the certificate category and who recognizes it | No conclusion on a nationwide license was verified | Verify against the specific posting and issuing body | No uniform period or cost was obtained | A certificate does not automatically prove operating authorization |
| Occupational health and protection arrangements | Those whose real tasks involve the corresponding exposure | Verify the employer's risk assessment and applicable arrangements | Verify according to jurisdiction, tasks, and employer materials | This page does not specify medical examination or protection plans | Verify the period and investment against the original text | Does not prove the risk has been eliminated |
| Equipment-specific training | Those who use specific equipment in the target role | Verify equipment, site, guidance, and assessment | Verify against the real role conditions | Read employer and vendor materials | No uniform hours or cost was obtained | Does not automatically authorize work across equipment types |
The education, training, qualification, and experience requirements in a job posting must be read item by item; one item being relaxed does not mean other conditions can be substituted.
Degrees, training certificates, professional qualifications, and institutional authorization are different levels: completing a course does not equal having independent operating and safety judgment ability.
Qualifications and authorization have region- and institution-specific scope and must be re-verified across mine sites or equipment types.
This page does not replace local mine safety, occupational health, and environmental regulations or institutional rules; work permits and safety responsibility are governed by the actual authorization, and this page does not provide site safety conclusions.
Insufficient evidence: this round did not obtain a still-valid mainland China employer recruitment sample corresponding to this occupation. The existing employer cards are verification templates, not proof of active hiring. When collecting, record the work location, equipment, date, status, and all requirements, and do not fill in what you have not read.
The following stages and three routes are an editorial exploration framework combining O*NET tasks, and are not uniform job grades, promotion requirements, or guarantees of opportunity. Real training, operation, servicing, dispatch, and appointment conditions are verified role by role, and the SM343 on this page is only a paper material exercise.
Can complete equipment spot checks, simple excavation, and records under supervision, and write anomalies and work face changes clearly.
Workstation operation support
Can independently complete excavation and loading according to the plan and handle common anomalies and handovers.
Independent operation
Can adjust the working method according to work face conditions and take charge of complex working conditions and equipment condition judgment.
Operation technical backbone
Can serve as a team leader or work face lead and be responsible for safety, output, and handover.
The typical U.S. entry in BLS Table 1.2 is a high school diploma or equivalent, less than 5 years of related experience, and moderate on-the-job training; the O*NET education shares are U.S. survey data only. Insufficient evidence: no representative education or general licensing basis for this occupation in China was obtained, so verify by target role and locality.
Degrees, training, professional qualifications, and institutional authorization are different levels; completing a course and obtaining a certificate does not equal having independent operating and safety judgment ability; qualifications and authorization have region- and institution-specific scope and must be re-verified across mine sites or equipment types. This page does not replace local regulations and institutional rules and does not provide safety conclusions.
This page lists both official U.S. occupational materials and industry background information for mainland China; education, training, and safety rules in the two places must be verified separately.
The typical U.S. entry in BLS Table 1.2 is a high school diploma or equivalent, less than 5 years of related experience, and moderate on-the-job training; the O*NET education shares are U.S. survey data only. Insufficient evidence: no representative education or general licensing basis for this occupation in China was obtained, so verify by target role and locality.
Used to verify U.S. wage and employment trends
Used to verify occupational tasks, work activities, and preparation level
O*NET U.S. wage material entry point; cannot verify Chinese training conditions
Used to verify the scope of U.S. wage and employment statistics
Verify by locality, equipment, and target role; no general licensing determination was made
Complete one full pre-shift inspection according to the spot check sheet
Training operation records and spot check sheets (editorial suggestion)
Complete spot checks, spotting, and simple excavation under supervision
Equipment operation apprentice
Mainly based on on-the-job training and operating experience
Independently complete one planned excavation section and control elevation
Work volume records and equipment condition records (editorial suggestion)
Complete excavation and loading according to the plan and record it
Excavator operator
Mainly based on experience and equipment ability
Handle work face changes and common equipment anomalies
Working condition and anomaly handling records (editorial suggestion)
Responsible for complex working conditions and equipment condition judgment
Operation technical backbone
Mainly based on internal institutional appointment
Develops toward work organization and production management
Team records and handover records (editorial suggestion)
Responsible for safety, output, and handover
Independently complete spot checks and basic servicing
Spot check and servicing records (editorial suggestion)
Assist with daily spot checks, cleaning, and basic servicing
Equipment maintenance support
Mainly based on equipment and repair experience
Responsible for the servicing and spot check standards of one type of equipment
Servicing records and spare parts ledgers (editorial suggestion)
Carry out planned servicing and wear part replacement
Equipment and maintenance technician
Mainly based on experience and equipment management ability
Takes on equipment availability and repair quality control
Equipment ledgers and maintenance plans (editorial suggestion)
Coordinates equipment condition, maintenance plans, and spare parts
Mainly based on internal institutional appointment
Develops toward equipment management
Institutional documents and team records (editorial suggestion)
Responsible for equipment condition, maintenance, and the team
Mainly based on on-the-job training and field experience
Independently complete the coordination and records for one work section
Work records and communication records (editorial suggestion)
Assist with work organization and signal and haulage coordination
Mainly based on field experience and organizational ability
Responsible for the organization and coordination of one work face
Dispatch records and work ledgers (editorial suggestion)
Arrange work sequence and haulage coordination
Mainly based on experience and organizational ability
Takes on multi-task coordination and control
Production records and collaboration materials (editorial suggestion)
Responsible for work organization and output and quality control
Production technical backbone
Mainly based on internal institutional appointment
Develops toward production management
Institutional documents and team records (editorial suggestion)
Responsible for output, safety, and team delivery
BLS Table 1.2: employment of about 34,700 in 2025, 1.0% growth from 2025 to 2035, a net increase of about 400, and about 2,400 annual openings; the 2025 median annual wage is $57,430. For China only the verified mining average is retained and occupational statistics are not filled in.
The BLS all-factor employment projection shows growth and makes no causal claim about mineral type, orders, or AI
Projections are not actual outcomes, nor do they represent hiring volumes at a particular mine or enterprise
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators（SOC 47-5022／O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00）
Growth of 1.0% (2025–2035)
Employment size and openings are not the same indicator; openings include replacement needs
Occupational-level statistics; mineral type and regional differences are large
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators（SOC 47-5022／O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00）
Industry average wages cover multiple occupations and cannot replace this occupation's wage
Broad industry category scope; does not include a single-occupation wage distribution
Industry wage (industry proxy)
Mining and Quarrying (broad industry category)
Non-private 143,361 yuan/year; private 79,169 yuan/year
Used to verify the scope of U.S. wage and employment trends
Used to verify the scope of U.S. wage and employment statistics
Used to verify the National Bureau of Statistics industry average wage scope
Used to verify occupational tasks and preparation level
Requires additional rock judgment and drilling knowledge
Equipment operation and field work ability
Adjacent direction; moves from excavation and loading to drilling work
Requires additional earthwork allocation and multi-equipment experience
Equipment operation and field coordination ability
Adjacent direction; moves to construction earthwork
Requires additional lifting work and load judgment ability
Equipment operation and safety procedure awareness
Adjacent direction; moves to crane and lifting work
Requires additional in-site hauling and loading experience
Equipment operation and work coordination ability
Adjacent direction; moves to in-site material handling
Requires additional continuous mining and seam control knowledge
Equipment operation and working condition judgment ability
Adjacent direction; moves to continuous mining equipment
Requires additional knowledge of waterway work and dredging processes
Equipment operation and field judgment ability
Adjacent direction; moves to waterway dredging
Verify blasting training, qualifications, and authorization against the target jurisdiction, mineral type, and role; excavation and loading experience does not confer blasting authority.
Field safety and work coordination ability
Adjacent direction; moves to blasting work
Requires additional conveyor system and tending experience
Equipment spot check and work record ability
Adjacent direction; moves to conveyor system operation and tending
O*NET presents a 2025 median annual wage of $57,430 and an hourly wage of $27.61; this round directly verified the My Next Move low and high ends of $41,600 and $82,400. Insufficient evidence: access to the occupational OEWS page failed, so the 25/75 percentiles and industry medians were not obtained, and it is not asserted that the official source has not published them.
Current BLS Table 1.2: employment of about 34,700 in 2025, 1.0% growth from 2025 to 2035, a net increase of about 400, and about 2,400 annual openings including growth and replacement needs, not a ten-year total or current hiring figure; the occupation row does not list an AI contribution separately.
The National Bureau of Statistics materials verified this time are at the broad industry category level, and no nationwide single-occupation wage statistic precisely corresponding to this occupation was obtained; this page uses the average wage of urban units in "Mining and Quarrying" (2025 non-private 143,361 yuan/year, private 79,169 yuan/year) as an industry proxy, only to describe the industry context, and does not substitute an industry average or a single recruitment quote for occupational wages.
The typical U.S. entry per BLS is a high school diploma or equivalent, less than 5 years of related experience, and moderate on-the-job training; the O*NET education shares are U.S. survey data only. Insufficient evidence: no representative education or general licensing basis for this occupation in China was verified, so verify by locality, equipment, and target role.
Insufficient evidence: no measured result on AI adoption rates, occupation-wide augmentation, or replacement for this occupation was obtained. The ILO 2023 global potential task exposure is only a methodological reference, and managerial/professional category conclusions are not extrapolated; material and record assistance is an editorial candidate and cannot directly become a field decision.
No. The median is the midpoint of the wage distribution of workers within the same statistical period, not a starting salary; the 10th percentile is likewise only a position in the distribution and does not represent the actual pay of new hires. Individual income depends on mineral type, region, shift system, and pay method.
Editorial suggestion: first verify the target equipment, mineral type, tasks, shift system, and training, experience, qualification, and authorization conditions. A mechanical or construction background does not automatically prove transferability; the SM343 paper check can show material recomputation, and actual operating ability is verified separately against real training.
FermatMind career content research process
This page's source register and fact register (O*NET 47-5022.00 and the wage and employment trend, BLS OEWS and the 2025–2035 projections, My Next Move (funded by the U.S. Department of Labor), National Bureau of Statistics 2025 broad industry category average wages, ILO Working Paper 96, NIST AI RMF)
2026-10-11 (verified by the author across the nine modules in this round)
Exact wages for this occupation in China, representative recruitment, and unified qualifications lack evidence; the 2025 mining averages of 143,361/79,169 yuan are only industry proxies. The U.S. 2025 median of $57,430 and the 10/90 end values of 41,600/82,400 were verified via O*NET/My Next Move, and the 25/75 percentiles and industry wages were not obtained in this round. BLS Table 1.2 verifies 34,700 people, 1.0% growth from 2025 to 2035, a net increase of about 400, and 2,400 annual openings; the current O*NET summary and main industries have been updated to the 2025 cycle. The MSHA official equipment defect statement verifies reporting, records, inspection, and removal-from-service reminders within the applicable U.S. scope, and Chinese rules were not comprehensively verified. Measured AI and causal effects for this occupation lack evidence. Shared FAQ from the old cycle and duplicate source IDs are protected and retained, and practice items and others were not reviewed or changed.
Official occupational scope: operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets at surface mining sites to excavate and load loose materials.
Interest code RC; preparation level Job Zone 1-2.
O*NET OnLine
United States
current page; accessed 2026-10-03
official occupation profile
exact occupation (O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00; SOC 47-5022)
U.S. occupational sources do not automatically imply mainland China licensing requirements, qualifications, or employer requirements; they also do not constitute safety or equipment conclusions.
2026-10-03
Used to verify tasks, work activities, work context, technical skills, and preparation level (Job Zone 1-2).
Educational attainment survey: about 71% reported needing a high school diploma or equivalent, 23% less than high school, and 6% a postsecondary certificate.
O*NET OnLine
United States
current page; accessed 2026-10-03
official occupation details
exact occupation (O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00)
Applies only to this occupational description; education entries are not equivalent to qualifications, authorization, or being hired.
2026-10-03
Median wages (2025)：$27.61 hourly, $57,430 annual。
Employment (2024)：35,800；Projected growth (2024—2034)：Little or no change；Projected job openings (2024—2034)：3,100。
Top industries (2024): Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction; Construction (no wage given for each industry).
O*NET OnLine (data from BLS)
United States
median wages 2025; employment 2024; projections 2024—2034; accessed 2026-10-03
official occupation trends (BLS data)
exact occupation (O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00)
Insufficient evidence: the 25/75 percentiles and industry occupational wages were not obtained in this round. O*NET still presents 2024 employment and the 2024–2034 trend, while the main text's current projection is verified directly against BLS Table 1.2 and the low and high ends directly against My Next Move.
2026-10-03
O*NET presents a 2025 median hourly wage of $27.61 and an annual wage of $57,430; access to the occupation-level OEWS page failed in this round.
Insufficient evidence: the 25/75 percentiles and industry wages were not obtained in this round, and it is not asserted that the official source has not published them.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States
May 2025 wage data; accessed 2026-10-03
official wage statistics
wage source family (SOC 47-5022); occupation page not obtained
These are occupational-level wage statistics; percentiles are not starting salaries and do not constitute an individual contract salary or after-tax income.
2026-10-03
Employment of 34.7 thousand in 2025 and 35.0 thousand in 2035, a net increase of 0.4 thousand and 1.0% growth in the table; 2.4 thousand annual openings, with each column rounded independently.
Typical entry: a high school diploma or equivalent, less than 5 years of related work experience, and moderate on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States
2025—2035 projections; accessed 2026-10-03
official employment projections
exact SOC 47-5022
Projections are not actual outcomes; they cannot be broken down into conclusions for a particular mine or region, or into individual hiring probabilities.
2026-10-03
Average wage in urban non-private units in "Mining and Quarrying" 143,361 yuan/year; urban private units 79,169 yuan/year (2025).
Insufficient evidence: no nationwide single-occupation wage for this occupation was obtained in this round; the mining average cannot replace occupational wages.
National Bureau of Statistics
Mainland China
2025 annual wage; published 2026-05-15; accessed 2026-10-03
official industry proxy
industry proxy: mining and quarrying
Industry average wages cover multiple occupations and cannot be treated as this occupation's median, starting salary, or an individual offer.
2026-10-03
Conclusion: most jobs are only partially exposed at the task level, and generative AI is more likely to augment than to fully replace; clerical tasks are the most exposed, while managerial and professional occupations have a lower share of highly exposed tasks.
Uses a task-classification method, not firm-level adoption data.
International Labour Organization
Global
2023-08-21; accessed 2026-10-03
institutional research (working paper)
global occupational task exposure to generative AI
Task exposure does not equal actual adoption, productivity, or job change; economic structures differ greatly across countries.
2026-10-03
A voluntary framework for governing, identifying, measuring, and managing AI risk.
The related application suggestions in this text are editorial synthesis, not field measurements or uniform regulation for this occupation.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
U.S./international reference
released 2023-01-26; accessed 2026-10-03
voluntary risk management framework
AI risk governance and human oversight
Governance frameworks contain no occupational or employment statistics and cannot serve as evidence of career prospects or employment.
2026-10-03
Used to distinguish occupational facts, statistical scope, industry proxies, qualification boundaries, AI assistance, and human review.
This study's methodology and editorial synthesis are labeled internal_rubric or editorial_synthesis.
FermatMind
Mainland China/United States
current authoring rules; accessed 2026-09-20
editorial method
field review and source disclosure
It is not an external source of occupational facts and does not replace official statistics or jurisdictional rules.
2026-09-20
The current median is $57,430, with low and high ends of $41,600 and $82,400.
My Next Move, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
exact O*NET-SOC 47-5022.00; 2025 wages
The distribution is not a starting salary or experience grade; the occupational OEWS page was not obtained in this round.
2026-10-03
The official statement corresponds to 56/57.14100(b) prompt correction of safety defects and (d) records; 77.1606(c) correction of safety defects before equipment use.
Mine Safety and Health Administration
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
US referenced equipment-defect standards; metal/nonmetal and coal distinguished
The official statement is not a complete current regulation compilation; eCFR access failed, so no Chinese requirement or actual safety status is inferred.
2026-10-03
56/57.14100(d) safety defects not immediately corrected must be reported, recorded, and retained until corrected; 77.1606(a) pre-operation inspection and defect record reporting for mobile loading and haulage equipment.
Mine Safety and Health Administration
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
US referenced mobile-equipment defect records
Corresponds only to the U.S. statement, not Chinese rules or a remote clearance determination.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 47-5023.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 47-2073.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 53-7021.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 49-3042.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 53-3032.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 47-5044.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 53-7051.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 47-5041.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 53-7031.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 47-5032.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03
This round read the official definition and tasks, used for comparing main outputs and work objects.
O*NET OnLine
United States
Read in this round on 2026-10-03
official source
adjacent occupation 53-7011.00
Is not a guarantee of job transfer, hiring, or qualification, and cannot be extrapolated to Chinese requirements.
2026-10-03