Prevailing Wage for Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Prevailing wages for Continuous Mining Machine Operators (SOC 47-5041) are set by the DOL through its Occupational Employment Statistics surveys. Whether your job title reads Continuous Miner, Bore Miner Operator, or Continuous Miner Operator, the same four experience levels apply, and the wage floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level operators with limited hands-on experience running continuous mining equipment, typically working under close supervision on routine extraction tasks with minimal independent judgment expected by the employer.
Level 2 applies to qualified operators with practical field experience who work with moderate supervision. Most H-1B and green card LCA filings for this occupation are submitted at Level 2, reflecting standard production-floor competency.
Level 3 is for experienced operators who work independently, troubleshoot equipment issues, and may train junior crew members. Employers filing at this level typically document several years of verified continuous mining experience on the LCA.
Level 4 covers fully competent operators in senior or lead roles, overseeing multi-machine operations or shift production targets. These workers exercise significant independent judgment and often hold informal supervisory responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Continuous Mining Machine Operators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Continuous Mining Machine Operators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch how underground versus surface sites are classified
DOL assigns prevailing wages by worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters. Continuous mining operations frequently span multiple pit or shaft locations, so confirm your specific worksite county is listed on the certified LCA before comparing it to the posted prevailing wage.
Know why West Virginia metros pay above the national median
Charleston and Beckley markets show L1 floors well above the national median for this occupation, driven by dense coal extraction demand. If an offer in those metros comes in below the regional L2 floor, that gap is a compliance risk worth raising with the employer.
Separate production bonuses from the base wage calculation
Shift-completion bonuses and tonnage incentives common in continuous mining are not counted toward the prevailing wage floor under DOL rules. Verify that your guaranteed base hourly rate alone clears the applicable level, independent of any variable production pay.
Find employers who have sponsored Continuous Mining Machine Operators before
Migrate Mate shows which companies have historical H-1B and green card sponsorship records for heavy extraction roles, so you can focus applications on employers already familiar with filing LCAs for this occupation rather than starting cold with operators who have never sponsored.
Jobs for Continuous Mining Machine Operators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-5041.00 alongside Continuous Mining Machine Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Bore Miner Operator Prevailing Wage
Bore Miner Operator Prevailing Wage
Bore Miner Operator positions fall under SOC 47-5041.00 (Continuous Mining Machine Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Continuous Miner Prevailing Wage
Continuous Miner Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Continuous Miner for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5041.00 (Continuous Mining Machine Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Continuous Miner Operator (CMO) Prevailing Wage
Continuous Miner Operator (CMO) Prevailing Wage
Continuous Miner Operator (CMO) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5041.00 (Continuous Mining Machine Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Continuous Mining Operator (CMO) Prevailing Wage
Continuous Mining Operator (CMO) Prevailing Wage
Continuous Mining Operator (CMO) positions fall under SOC 47-5041.00 (Continuous Mining Machine Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Heavy Equipment Operator Prevailing Wage
Heavy Equipment Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Heavy Equipment Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5041.00 (Continuous Mining Machine Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Loader Operator Prevailing Wage
Loader Operator Prevailing Wage
Loader Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5041.00 (Continuous Mining Machine Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Mine Technician Prevailing Wage
Mine Technician Prevailing Wage
Mine Technician positions fall under SOC 47-5041.00 (Continuous Mining Machine Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Mine Utility Operator Prevailing Wage
Mine Utility Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Mine Utility Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5041.00 (Continuous Mining Machine Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Miner Operator Prevailing Wage
Miner Operator Prevailing Wage
Miner Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5041.00 (Continuous Mining Machine Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Continuous Mining Machine Operators?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metro and nonmetro areas. For SOC 47-5041, OFLC assigns four wage levels based on regional pay distributions for this specific occupation code. Employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and independence: Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with routine independent work, Level 3 is experienced with broader judgment, and Level 4 is fully competent in a lead capacity. The level on your employer's LCA filing should match your actual duties and experience. If the level seems too low for your responsibilities, that discrepancy can affect your immigration case.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC bases wages on regional Occupational Employment Statistics surveys, so pay reflects local labor market conditions where the work actually occurs. The worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's office address, determines which metro wage applies. Markets with concentrated coal or mineral extraction activity, like the West Virginia coalfields, show higher floors than metros where this occupation is sparse and wage survey samples are thinner.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the worksite and level. USCIS can also deny an H-1B or green card petition if wage compliance is not established. If your offer letter reflects a rate below the floor, the employer must increase the wage before filing, or the sponsorship process cannot proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up SOC 47-5041 wages by state and metro area. Enter the worksite city and confirm the level that matches your experience. You can also cross-reference O*NET for occupation scope details. To see which employers have actively sponsored this role, Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsorship history by occupation and location so you can identify companies with a real filing track record.
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