Mining Engineer Salary in the US (2026 Guide)
Updated using 23 verified salary entries collected directly from employers across the United States.
Mining Engineers in the US are in strong demand, particularly in states with active mining operations including Minnesota, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Based on 23 real salary submissions, Mining Engineer hourly wages range from approximately $40.87/hr to $105.77/hr, with significant variation by state, seniority, and sector.
National Salary Snapshot
- Typical range: $40.87/hr to $96.15/hr
- Top earners (senior/lead roles): $84 to $105/hr
- Entry to mid-level: $40 to $65/hr
These insights come from real employer-submitted data across mining, engineering consulting, government, and heavy equipment sectors collected in February 2026.
Salary by State
Minnesota (MN) – Average: $78.43/hr
Driven by iron ore and taconite mining in the Iron Range. Strong demand for autonomous haulage and senior mine engineers.
Texas (TX) – Average: $75.72/hr
Supported by oil/gas sector engineering roles and mining management positions in the Houston area.
Pennsylvania (PA) – Average: $70.65/hr
Coal, aggregates, and consulting engineering firms drive demand. Strong salaries for senior and practice lead roles.
Colorado (CO) – Average: $69.72/hr
Active mining and engineering consulting sector. Denver-area roles are common for senior mine engineers and project managers.
Utah (UT) – Average: $69.29/hr
Copper mining and engineering consulting in Salt Lake City. HDR and similar firms post competitive rates for senior mining engineers.
Connecticut (CT) – Average: $65.63/hr
Principal and senior engineering roles for consulting firms headquartered in the region.
California (CA) – Average: $61.39/hr
Mining and geological engineering in active mine regions including Mojave.
Washington (WA) – Average: $60.10/hr
Active mine engineering roles at gold and mineral mining companies in Republic, WA.
Nevada (NV) – Average: $58.62/hr
Gold and silver mining operations in Reno and across the state create steady demand for professional engineers.
Alaska (AK) – Average: $55.29/hr
Remote mine engineering roles at operations like Northern Star (Pogo) in Delta Junction.
Arizona (AZ) – Average: $54.62/hr
Copper mining driven by Freeport-McMoRan operations in Phoenix. Underground and open-pit roles available.
New York (NY) – Average: $52.89/hr
Aggregates and industrial minerals. Mine engineer roles at companies like Imerys (Willsboro).
Kentucky (KY) – Average: $48.08/hr
Coal and aggregates. Engineering roles at smaller mining operations.
Top-Paying Cities for Mining Engineers
- Duluth, MN – $115.39/hr avg (highest in dataset)
- Pittsburgh, PA – $89.99/hr avg
- Houston, TX – $75.72/hr avg
- Denver, CO – $74.52/hr avg
- Nashwauk, MN – $70.32/hr avg
- Salt Lake City, UT – $69.29/hr avg
- Reno, NV – $67.31/hr avg
- Stamford, CT – $65.63/hr avg
- Grand Junction, CO – $64.91/hr avg
- Mojave, CA – $61.39/hr avg
What Affects Mining Engineer Pay in the US?
1. Seniority and Role Level
Pay varies significantly by level. Roles range from entry-level Mine Engineer ($40-$55/hr) to Senior Mine Engineer ($55-$75/hr) to Practice Lead or Principal Engineer ($84-$105/hr).
2. Mining Sector
Highest-paying sectors include underground and open-pit hard rock mining (gold, copper, iron ore), oil sands and energy-related mining, engineering consulting firms, and autonomous haulage and technology roles.
3. Location and Remoteness
Remote mining operations in Alaska, Minnesota’s Iron Range, and isolated areas carry significant premiums. Field-based roles also pay more than office-based consulting.
4. Certifications and Specialization
PE (Professional Engineer) licensure significantly boosts earning potential. Specializations in underground mining, autonomous haulage systems, mine planning software, and geotechnical engineering are highly valued.
Job Outlook for Mining Engineers in the US (2026)
Demand for mining engineers in the US remains strong driven by critical minerals demand (lithium, copper, rare earths) for EV and clean energy transition, continued gold, copper, and iron ore mining operations, aging workforce creating openings across seniority levels, growth in autonomous and technology-driven mining operations, and infrastructure investment driving demand for aggregates and industrial minerals.
Where This Data Comes From
This report is based on 23 real Mining Engineer salary entries, manually verified and collected directly from employers across the United States. Each entry includes job title, employer name, city/town, state, and hourly wage. Data was collected in February 2026.
Salary Information – US Mining Engineer
| Job Title | Company Name | City/Town | State | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomous Haulage Systems Engineer | Mesabi Metallics Company LLC | Nashwauk | MN | $62.50-$81.73/hr |
| Senior Mining Engineer | ITASCA- Minneapolis | Minneapolis | MN | $45.67-$69.71/hr |
| Mine Engineer | Turner Staffing Group | Kearny | AZ | $40.87-$55.29/hr |
| Manager – Mine | Mesabi Metallics Company LLC | Nashwauk | MN | $60.10-$76.92/hr |
| Associate Water Resources Engineer – Mining | Burns and McDonnell | Duluth | MN | $86.54-$144.23/hr |
| Mine Engineer II – Underground | Freeport-McMoRan | Phoenix | AZ | $40.87-$56.01/hr |
| Senior Underground Mine Engineer | Freeport-McMoRan | Phoenix | AZ | $48.56-$67.79/hr |
| Mining Engineer (Engineer II) | Mission Support and Test Services | Mercury | NV | $39.94-$59.91/hr |
| Senior Mine Engineer | Kinross Gold Corporation | Republic | WA | $55.29-$64.90/hr |
| Senior Mining or Geological Engineer | RE/SPEC Inc. | Grand Junction | CO | $57.69-$72.12/hr |
| Mining Engineer – Senior Level (Hybrid) | Barr Engineering | Salt Lake City | UT | $46.10-$50.78/hr |
| Mining Engineering Manager | Mariana Minerals | Houston | TX | $67.31-$84.13/hr |
| Mining Engineer | Northern Star (Pogo) LLC | Delta Junction | AK | $50.48-$60.10/hr |
| Senior Mine Planning Engineer | Golden Queen Mining Company LLC | Mojave | CA | $54.21-$68.56/hr |
| Mining Project Manager – Engineer or Geologist | EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc. | Denver | CO | $67.31-$81.73/hr |
| Mine Engineer | Imerys | Willsboro | NY | $43.27-$62.50/hr |
| Professional Engineer – Senior | J-U-B Engineers, Inc. | Reno | NV | $62.50-$72.12/hr |
| Principal Engineer | Syensqo | Stamford | CT | $51.92-$79.33/hr |
| Mining Engineer Consultant | Commonwealth of PA | New Stanton | PA | $42.37-$60.25/hr |
| Engineer Mining | Battletown Materials LLC | Battletown | KY | $45.67-$50.48/hr |
| West Region Mining Practice Lead | HDR | Salt Lake City | UT | $84.13-$96.15/hr |
| East Region Mining Practice Lead | HDR | Pittsburgh | PA | $74.21-$105.77/hr |
| Field Engineer | Bridgestone Americas | Phoenix | AZ | $49.76-$77.12/hr |
FAQs
What is the average Mining Engineer salary in the US?
Based on our 2026 data, Mining Engineers in the US typically earn between $40.87/hr and $105.77/hr depending on seniority, location, and sector.
Which states pay the most for Mining Engineers?
Minnesota leads due to iron ore mining operations, followed by Texas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Utah.
What factors most affect Mining Engineer pay in the US?
The biggest factors are seniority level, mining sector, location (remote vs. urban), and professional certifications such as a PE license.
Where does this Mining Engineer salary data come from?
This report uses 23 real salary entries submitted by employers across the United States. Each entry is verified and includes job title, employer, location, state, and hourly wage. Data collected February 2026.
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