Roof Bolters, Mining earn a median of $78,540 per year ($37.76/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 18.9% through 2035, with about 100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-5043
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Roof Bolter, Mining in four numbers
- Median pay
- $78,540a year, or $37.76/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $64KTop 10% $93K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -18.9%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−18.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −18.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1002,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20252.2K
- Projected 20351.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 2.2K Projected 2035 1.8K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school13.3%
- High school86.7%
Highest education held by roof bolters, mining Segment Value Less than high school 13.3% High school 86.7%
Also advertised as: Bolt Machine Operator, Bolt Man, Bolter, Miner, Place Change Roof Bolter, Roof Bolter.
Pay
How much do Roof Bolters, Mining make?
Every roof bolter, mining in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$78,540
Middle half earn $71,390 to $81,860
- 10th
- $63,750
- 25th
- $71,390
- 75th
- $81,860
- 90th
- $92,830
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $63,750 |
| 25th | $71,390 |
| Median | $78,540 |
| 75th | $81,860 |
| 90th | $92,830 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $78,540
- Median hourly wage
- $37.76/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $78,100
- People employed
- 2,160
Versus all US occupations
At $78,540, Roof Bolters, Mining earn 54% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $27,560 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 31% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $92,830 or more while the bottom 10% earn $63,750, a gap of 1.5×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 55% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Wyoming pays the most at $116,570, and still leads at $125,762 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Roof Bolters, Mining 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Wyoming | $116,570 | $125,762 | 100 |
| 2Illinois | $81,860 | $81,894 | 200 |
| 3Colorado | $81,270 | $78,863 | 40 |
| 4West Virginia | $79,400 | $88,718 | 970 |
| 5Virginia | $78,260 | $77,405 | 110 |
| 6Kentucky | $72,510 | $80,425 | 120 |
| 7Alabama | $67,020 | $75,453 | 80 |
Job outlook
Is Roof Bolter, Mining a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -18.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Roof Bolters, Mining | −18.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Roof Bolters, Mining to change -18.9% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 400 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 100 openings are projected each year, 4.5% of the 2,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Roof Bolter, Mining
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no 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 roof bolters, mining.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)86.7%
- Less than a High School Diploma13.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 86.7% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 13.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Roof Bolter, Mining do?
Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.
Day-to-day tasks
- Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.
- Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported.
- Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks.
- Perform safety checks on equipment before operating.
- Perform tests to determine if methane gas is present.
- Force bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines.
- Remove drill bits from chucks after drilling holes, and insert bolts into chucks.
- Drill test holes and test bolts for specified tension, using torque wrenches.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
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
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Monitoring3.3
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Active Learning2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.4
- Learning Strategies2.3
- Writing2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.3 |
| Writing | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control3.6
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Troubleshooting3.3
- Equipment Maintenance3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Repairing3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.6 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.3 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Repairing | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Industrial control 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 Roof Bolter, Mining?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Roof Bolter, Mining |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 3 |
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 organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.3
- Investigative2.5
- Enterprising1.0
- Artistic1.0
- Social1.0
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 Roof Bolter, Mining
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
Continuous Mining Machine Operator
$61,810median a year
Most earn $47K to $86K
+3.2%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Production
Aircraft Structure, Surface, Rigging, and Systems Assembler
$65,380median a year
Most earn $47K to $108K
−5.6%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Transportation and Material Moving
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with roof bolters, mining highlighted
- Roof Bolter, Mining$78,540
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Roof Bolter, Mining | $78,540 |
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Roof Bolter, Mining appears on
Questions
Roof Bolter, Mining: frequently asked questions
How much do Roof Bolters, Mining make?
Roof Bolters, Mining earn a median of $78,540 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 54% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $37.76/hr. The middle half earn between $71,390 and $81,860. The top 10% earn $92,830 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Roof Bolter, Mining?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Roof Bolters, Mining. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 86.7% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Roof Bolter, Mining a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 18.9% over 2025–2035, a loss of 400 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Roof Bolter, Mining do?
Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine. A core O*NET task: drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.
Which states pay Roof Bolters, Mining the most?
The highest state medians for Roof Bolters, Mining are Wyoming ($116,570), Illinois ($81,860), Colorado ($81,270) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Roof Bolter, Mining?
O*NET scores Roof Bolters, Mining highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with 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.