SOC 47-5022 · Fresno, CA metro

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Fresno, CA

The average salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Fresno, California is $94,980 a year ($45.67 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $74,390: half of the 30 people in this job in the Fresno, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 54% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($61,487).

$94,980average per year

$45.67 / hourMedian $74,390Take-home ≈ $70,907

  • $58K10th
  • $61K25th
  • $74KMedian
  • $143K75th
  • $143K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

30people in this job
+54%vs U.S. metro average
#3 of 7California metros
102cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay range in Fresno

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,660 a year or less, while the top 10% make $143,320 or more. The middle half of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Fresno earn between $60,760 and $143,320.

  • $58K10th
  • $61K25th
  • $74KMedian
  • $143K75th
  • $143K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$94,980$7,915$45.66
Median$74,390$6,199$35.76
Entry level (25th percentile)$60,760$5,063$29.21
Experienced (75th percentile)$143,320$11,943$68.90

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

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

On the average salary of $94,980, a single filer in Fresno takes home about $70,907 a year, or $5,909 a month and $2,727 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

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

Prices in the Fresno area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.2), so the average $94,980 buys what about $92,974 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fresno ($46,910). A typical home costs $409,749, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $94,980 is worth in another city

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

Fresno ranks 3rd of 7 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($110,990).

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

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

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

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

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

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

$45.67 an hour on average, and $35.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

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

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,660 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,760, a fair guide to starting pay.

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

About $70,907 a year ($5,909 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,980. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

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

The average here is 54% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($61,487).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-5022; area Fresno, CA (23420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.32, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.32).

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