# Roof Bolters, Mining

> Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/roof-bolters-mining
- SOC code: 47-5043.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $78,540 (10th percentile $63,750, 90th percentile $92,830)
- Projected growth: Decline, -18.9%
- Openings a year: 100
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- 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) | 24 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 39 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 88/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 86/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 85/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 84/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 81/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 81/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 76/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 73/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Active Listening, Equipment Maintenance, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Education and Training, Mechanical, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, Law and Government, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Personnel and Human Resources, Transportation

## Also called

Bolt Machine Operator, Bolt Man, Bolter, Bolting Inspector, Bolting Machine Operator, Miner, Place Change Roof Bolter, Roof Bolter, Roof Bolter Operator, Roof Bolting Coal Miner

## Related careers

- [Continuous Mining Machine Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/continuous-mining-machine-operators): $61,810 median pay
- [Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/earth-drillers-except-oil-and-gas): $60,190 median pay
- [Structural Iron and Steel Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/structural-iron-and-steel-workers): $62,780 median pay
- [Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aircraft-structure-surfaces-rigging-and-systems-assemblers): $65,380 median pay
- [Riggers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/riggers): $62,640 median pay
- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 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.