Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Construction and Extraction Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 47-5041.00
Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, shuttle cars, or trucks in a continuous operation.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.17
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
15 rated tasks · 0 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (0.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.O*NET Task ID 14956 | 0.0 |
Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.O*NET Task ID 14957 | 0.0 |
Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.O*NET Task ID 14958 | 0.0 |
Drive machines into position at working faces.O*NET Task ID 14959 | 0.0 |
Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.O*NET Task ID 14960 | 0.0 |
Observe and listen to equipment operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment malfunctions.O*NET Task ID 14961 | 0.0 |
Repair, oil, and adjust machines, and change cutting teeth, using wrenches.O*NET Task ID 14962 | 0.0 |
Move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing.O*NET Task ID 14963 | 0.0 |
Install casings to prevent cave-ins.O*NET Task ID 14964 | 0.0 |
Guide and assist crews laying track and resetting supports and blocking.O*NET Task ID 14965 | 0.0 |
Apply new technologies developed to minimize the environmental impact of coal mining.O*NET Task ID 19875 | 0.0 |
Scrape or wash conveyors, using belt scrapers or belt washers, to minimize dust production.O*NET Task ID 19876 | 0.0 |
Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.O*NET Task ID 20912 | 0.0 |
Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.O*NET Task ID 20913 | 0.0 |
Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.O*NET Task ID 20914 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (15)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars. | Core |
| Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut. | Core |
| Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts. | Core |
| Drive machines into position at working faces. | Core |
| Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches. | Core |
| Observe and listen to equipment operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment malfunctions. | Core |
| Repair, oil, and adjust machines, and change cutting teeth, using wrenches. | Core |
| Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated. | Core |
| Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air. | Core |
| Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas. | Core |
| Move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing. | Supplemental |
| Install casings to prevent cave-ins. | Supplemental |
| Guide and assist crews laying track and resetting supports and blocking. | Supplemental |
| Apply new technologies developed to minimize the environmental impact of coal mining. | Supplemental |
| Scrape or wash conveyors, using belt scrapers or belt washers, to minimize dust production. | Supplemental |
0.95/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts. | E2 structured facilities |
| Drive machines into position at working faces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches. | E2 structured facilities |
| Repair, oil, and adjust machines, and change cutting teeth, using wrenches. | E0 none |
| Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated. | E0 none |
| Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air. | E2 structured facilities |
| Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas. | E0 none |
| Move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing. | E3 unstructured settings |
| Install casings to prevent cave-ins. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Guide and assist crews laying track and resetting supports and blocking. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Apply new technologies developed to minimize the environmental impact of coal mining. | E2 structured facilities |
| Scrape or wash conveyors, using belt scrapers or belt washers, to minimize dust production. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 14K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 14K
- Change (2025–35)
- +3.2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $61,810
- Typical education needed for entry
- No formal educational credential
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87401 | 굴착기·착암기 및 채광기 조작원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 8111Miners and Quarriers
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- underground heavy equipment operatorESCO 8111.4Same scope
Underground heavy equipment operators control heavy-duty mining equipment such as cutting and loading equipment to excavate and load ore and raw mineral at underground mines.
- mining assistantESCO 9311.1Overlapping, not the same
Mining assisstants perform routine duties in mining and quarrying operations. They assist the miners with maintaining equipment, with laying pipes, cables and tunnels, and with removing wast.
- scraper operatorESCO 8342.8Overlapping, not the same
Scraper operators work with a mobile piece of heavy equipment that scrapes the top layer of the ground and deposits it in a hopper to be hauled off. They drive the scraper over the surface to be scraped, adapting the speed of the machine to the hardness of the surface.
- surface mine plant operatorESCO 8342.10Overlapping, not the same
Surface mine plant operators control heavy-duty equipment such as excavators and dump trucks, often involving a high level of spatial awareness, to excavate, load and transport ore, raw mineral including sand, stone and clay and overburden at quarries and surface mines.
- surface minerESCO 8111.3Overlapping, not the same
Surface miners perform a wide range of ancillary surface mining operations, often involving a high level of spatial awareness, such as pumping, dust suppression and the transport of materials including sand, stone and clay to the point of production.
- underground minerESCO 8111.5Overlapping, not the same
Underground miners perform a wide range of ancillary underground mining operations such as inspections, conveyor attendance and the transport of equipment and consumable materials from the surface to the point of extraction underground.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| F1302 | Conducteur / Conductrice d'engins de chantier | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| F1401 | Foreur / Foreuse | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| F1402 | Boutefeu | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8111 | Mineros y otros operadores en instalaciones mineras | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 21112 | Berufe im Berg- und Tagebau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 645 | 建設・さく井機械運転従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources