# Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining

> Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loading-and-moving-machine-operators-underground-mining
- SOC code: 47-5044.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $74,500 (10th percentile $52,030, 90th percentile $87,730)
- Projected growth: Decline, -15.8%
- Openings a year: 400
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 19 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 45 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 85/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 76/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 74/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 73/100)
- Getting Information (importance 66/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 64/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 63/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 62/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 59/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 57/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Active Listening, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Equipment Maintenance, Speaking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Education and Training, Law and Government, English Language, Production and Processing, Public Safety and Security, Transportation, Administration and Management, Engineering and Technology, Design

## Also called

Buggy Driver, Buggy Man, Buggy Operator, Buggy Runner, Car Dropper, Car Dumper, Car Pincher, Cart Driver, Coal Hauler Operator, Coke Loader

## Related careers

- [Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-truck-and-tractor-operators): $46,420 median pay
- [Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/excavating-and-loading-machine-and-dragline-operators-surface-mining): $57,430 median pay
- [Continuous Mining Machine Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/continuous-mining-machine-operators): $61,810 median pay
- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 median pay
- [Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tank-car-truck-and-ship-loaders): $58,870 median pay
- [Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/operating-engineers-and-other-construction-equipment-operators): $59,850 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.