Designs how a mine will be dug over days, years and decades, deciding the sequence, equipment and pit or tunnel layouts. BLS does not publish separate figures for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers; it counts them within mining and geological engineer, including mining safety engineers (SOC 17-2151), whose median pay is $106,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 17-2151
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Mine Planning Engineer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $106,220a year, or $51.07/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $67KTop 10% $170K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.8%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3006,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20256.2K
- Projected 20356.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 6.2K Projected 2035 6.4K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college0.6%
- Associate's0.6%
- Bachelor's79.1%
- Post-bacc certificate16.7%
- Master's3%
Highest education held by mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers Segment Value Some college 0.6% Associate's 0.6% Bachelor's 79.1% Post-bacc certificate 16.7% Master's 3%
Also advertised as: Mine Planner, Short-Range Mine Planner, Long-Range Mine Planner, Mine Design Engineer, Mine Planning Superintendent.
Pay
How much do Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers make?
Every mine planning engineer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$106,220
Middle half earn $85,280 to $136,590
- 10th
- $67,490
- 25th
- $85,280
- 75th
- $136,590
- 90th
- $169,990
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $67,490 |
| 25th | $85,280 |
| Median | $106,220 |
| 75th | $136,590 |
| 90th | $169,990 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $106,220
- Median hourly wage
- $51.07/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $115,410
- People employed
- 6,080
Versus all US occupations
At $106,220, Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers earn 108% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $55,240 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
The median is typical for the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $169,990 or more while the bottom 10% earn $67,490, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 80% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($158,130), but once local prices are taken into account Oklahoma leads at $149,881 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $158,130 | $142,820 | 520 |
| 2Oklahoma | $131,660 | $149,881 | 90 |
| 3Utah | $125,520 | $126,962 | 230 |
| 4Alaska | $124,630 | $121,758 | 300 |
| 5Idaho | $123,680 | $129,516 | 110 |
| 6Wyoming | $119,010 | $128,394 | 210 |
| 7Florida | $117,500 | $113,621 | 50 |
| 8Indiana | $113,640 | $121,763 | 60 |
| 9Illinois | $107,690 | $107,735 | N/A |
| 10Nevada | $107,500 | $107,523 | 470 |
Job outlook
Is Mine Planning Engineer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | +3.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers to change 3.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 300 openings are projected each year, 4.8% of the 6,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Mine Planning Engineer
A bachelor's degree in mining engineering from an ABET-accredited program is the standard path. Training in mine planning software, geostatistics and mine economics is part of most programs.
Graduates usually start as junior mine engineers on site. MSHA training is required to work at mines, and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration provides professional development. For reporting reserves under SEC rules, engineers can become qualified persons, which often requires licensure and experience. Experience in operations helps planners make plans that crews can actually follow.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers.
- Bachelor's Degree79.1%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate16.7%
- Master's Degree3%
- Some College Courses0.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree0.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 79.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 16.7% |
| Master's Degree | 3% |
| Some College Courses | 0.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Mine Planning Engineer do?
Mine planning engineers decide what gets mined, when and how. Long-range planners use geologic block models and mine planning software to design pit shells or underground layouts and to build life-of-mine schedules that drive a project's economics.
Short-range planners turn those plans into weekly and monthly targets for the crews, assigning shovels, trucks and drills and balancing ore grades for the processing plant. Both work closely with geologists, geotechnical engineers and operations, and they update plans constantly as conditions change. They also help estimate reserves and costs for company reporting.
Day-to-day tasks
- Design pit shells and underground mine layouts
- Build life-of-mine production schedules
- Prepare weekly and monthly mining plans
- Assign equipment and crews to mining areas
- Balance ore grades sent to the processing plant
- Estimate mining costs and reserves
- Reconcile planned versus actual production
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Mine planners work at mine site offices, often in remote locations, with regular trips into the pit or underground. Some live in nearby towns and others work rotations. Corporate planners work in city offices and travel to sites. Planning work is software-heavy, with weekly meetings that set the next targets for operations crews.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Mathematics3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Science3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.1
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Systems Evaluation3.8
- Coordination3.5
- Time Management3.4
- Instructing3.1
- Operations Analysis3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.5 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Mine Planning Engineer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ICR) built on O*NET's Mining and Geological Engineer, Including Mining Safety Engineers profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Mine Planning Engineer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic6.1
- Investigative5.7
- Conventional4.9
- Enterprising2.8
- Social1.8
- Artistic1.6
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Mine Planning Engineer
O*NET related occupations
- Architecture and Engineering
Mining and Geological Engineer, Including Mining Safety Engineers
$106,220median a year
Most earn $67K to $170K
+3.8%Bachelor's - Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Geological Technician, Except Hydrologic Technicians
$53,350median a year
Most earn $36K to $100K
+3.6%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
- Management
More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mine Planning Engineer$106,220
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mine Planning Engineer | $106,220 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Mine Planning Engineer appears on
Questions
Mine Planning Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers. It counts them within mining and geological engineer, including mining safety engineers, whose median pay is $106,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $85,280 and $136,590, and the top 10% earn $169,990 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Mine Planning Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 79.1% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Mine Planning Engineer a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.8% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Mine Planning Engineer do?
Mine planning engineers decide what gets mined, when and how. A typical task: design pit shells and underground mine layouts. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers are California ($158,130), Oklahoma ($131,660), Utah ($125,520) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Oklahoma moves to the top at $149,881.
What personality type suits a Mine Planning Engineer?
O*NET scores Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.