Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
Construction and Extraction Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 47-5044.00
Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.
- 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
0.17–0.20· 2 ISCO-08 groups
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.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 8111Miners and Quarriers0.17
- ISCO-08 8311Locomotive Engine Drivers0.20
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only28 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (3.6%)
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
- 3 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- 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. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Maintain records of materials moved.O*NET Task ID 23502 | 1.0 |
Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.O*NET Task ID 15183 | 0.0 |
Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.O*NET Task ID 15184 | 0.0 |
Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces.O*NET Task ID 15185 | 0.0 |
Operate levers to move conveyor booms or shovels so that mine contents such as coal, rock, and ore can be placed into cars or onto conveyors.O*NET Task ID 15186 | 0.0 |
Clean hoppers, and clean spillage from tracks, walks, driveways, and conveyor decking.O*NET Task ID 15187 | 0.0 |
Oil, lubricate, and adjust conveyors, crushers, and other equipment, using hand tools and lubricating equipment.O*NET Task ID 15188 | 0.0 |
Replace hydraulic hoses, headlight bulbs, and gathering-arm teeth.O*NET Task ID 15189 | 0.0 |
Stop gathering arms when cars are full.O*NET Task ID 15190 | 0.0 |
Advance machines to gather material and convey it into cars.O*NET Task ID 15191 | 0.0 |
Signal workers to move loaded cars.O*NET Task ID 15193 | 0.0 |
Observe and record car numbers, carriers, customers, tonnages, and grades and conditions of material.O*NET Task ID 15194 | 0.0 |
Notify switching departments to deliver specific types of cars.O*NET Task ID 15195 | 0.0 |
Inspect boarding and locking of open-top box cars and wedging of side-drop and hopper cars to prevent loss of material in transit.O*NET Task ID 15196 | 0.0 |
Clean, fuel, service, and perform safety checks on all equipment, and repair and replace parts as necessary.O*NET Task ID 23495 | 0.0 |
Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses.O*NET Task ID 23496 | 0.0 |
Direct other workers to move stakes, place blocks, position anchors or cables, or move materials.O*NET Task ID 23497 | 0.0 |
Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.O*NET Task ID 23498 | 0.0 |
Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel.O*NET Task ID 23499 | 0.0 |
Guide and stop cars by switching, applying brakes, or placing scotches, or wooden wedges, between wheels and rails.O*NET Task ID 23500 | 0.0 |
Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.O*NET Task ID 23501 | 0.0 |
Measure, weigh, or verify levels of rock, gravel, or other excavated material to prevent equipment overloads.O*NET Task ID 23503 | 0.0 |
Monitor loading processes to ensure that materials are loaded according to specifications.O*NET Task ID 23504 | 0.0 |
Move mine cars into position for loading and unloading, using pinchbars inserted under car wheels to position cars under loading spouts.O*NET Task ID 23505 | 0.0 |
Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines.O*NET Task ID 23506 | 0.0 |
Open and close bottom doors of cars to dump contents.O*NET Task ID 23507 | 0.0 |
Push or ride cars down slopes, or hook cars to cables and control cable drum brakes, to ease cars down inclines.O*NET Task ID 23508 | 0.0 |
Read written instructions or confer with supervisors about schedules and materials to be moved.O*NET Task ID 23509 | 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 (25)
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 |
|---|---|
| Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars. | Core |
| Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves. | Core |
| Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces. | Core |
| Operate levers to move conveyor booms or shovels so that mine contents such as coal, rock, and ore can be placed into cars or onto conveyors. | Core |
| Clean hoppers, and clean spillage from tracks, walks, driveways, and conveyor decking. | Core |
| Oil, lubricate, and adjust conveyors, crushers, and other equipment, using hand tools and lubricating equipment. | Core |
| Replace hydraulic hoses, headlight bulbs, and gathering-arm teeth. | Core |
| Clean, fuel, service, and perform safety checks on all equipment, and repair and replace parts as necessary. | Core |
| Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses. | Core |
| Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors. | Core |
| Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel. | Core |
| Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables. | Core |
| Measure, weigh, or verify levels of rock, gravel, or other excavated material to prevent equipment overloads. | Core |
| Monitor loading processes to ensure that materials are loaded according to specifications. | Core |
| Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines. | Core |
| Stop gathering arms when cars are full. | Supplemental |
| Advance machines to gather material and convey it into cars. | Supplemental |
| Signal workers to move loaded cars. | Supplemental |
| Observe and record car numbers, carriers, customers, tonnages, and grades and conditions of material. | Supplemental |
| Direct other workers to move stakes, place blocks, position anchors or cables, or move materials. | Supplemental |
| Guide and stop cars by switching, applying brakes, or placing scotches, or wooden wedges, between wheels and rails. | Supplemental |
| Maintain records of materials moved. | Supplemental |
| Move mine cars into position for loading and unloading, using pinchbars inserted under car wheels to position cars under loading spouts. | Supplemental |
| Push or ride cars down slopes, or hook cars to cables and control cable drum brakes, to ease cars down inclines. | Supplemental |
| Read written instructions or confer with supervisors about schedules and materials to be moved. | Supplemental |
1.03/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars. | E0 none |
| Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate levers to move conveyor booms or shovels so that mine contents such as coal, rock, and ore can be placed into cars or onto conveyors. | E2 structured facilities |
| Clean hoppers, and clean spillage from tracks, walks, driveways, and conveyor decking. | E0 none |
| Oil, lubricate, and adjust conveyors, crushers, and other equipment, using hand tools and lubricating equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Replace hydraulic hoses, headlight bulbs, and gathering-arm teeth. | E0 none |
| Clean, fuel, service, and perform safety checks on all equipment, and repair and replace parts as necessary. | E0 none |
| Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses. | E2 structured facilities |
| Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor loading processes to ensure that materials are loaded according to specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines. | E2 structured facilities |
| Stop gathering arms when cars are full. | E2 structured facilities |
| Advance machines to gather material and convey it into cars. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Guide and stop cars by switching, applying brakes, or placing scotches, or wooden wedges, between wheels and rails. | E2 structured facilities |
| Move mine cars into position for loading and unloading, using pinchbars inserted under car wheels to position cars under loading spouts. | E2 structured facilities |
| Push or ride cars down slopes, or hook cars to cables and control cable drum brakes, to ease cars down inclines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 6K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 5K
- Change (2025–35)
- -15.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $74,500
- 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 | Related, not a match | 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
- ISCO-08 8311Locomotive Engine Drivers
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 8111.4This occupation is broader
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.
- underground minerESCO 8111.5This occupation is broader
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.
- bulldozer operatorESCO 8342.1Overlapping, not the same
Bulldozer operators operate a heavy vehicle to move earth, rubble or other material over the ground.
- excavator operatorESCO 8342.3Overlapping, not the same
Excavator operators use excavators to dig into earth or other materials to remove it. They are involved in a variety of projects, such as demolition, dredging, and the of digging holes, foundations and trenches.
- mine control room operatorESCO 8131.11Overlapping, not the same
Mine control room operators perform a range of tasks from the control room of a mine. They monitor the processes through electronic representations shown on monitors, dials, and lights. Control room operators make changes to variables and communicate with other departments to make sure processes keep running smoothly and according to established procedures. They take appropriate actions in case of irregularities or emergencies.
- 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.
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 |
| 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 |
| 8331 | Operadores de maquinaria de movimientos de tierras y equipos similares | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 narrower |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 699 | その他の採掘従事者 | 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