Mining and quarry workers and related operatives Pay Data UK — 2024
Mining and quarry workers and related operatives roles in the UK earn a median of £35,784 per year, equivalent to £14.86 per hour as of 2024. This represents a 1.6% increase in annual pay compared to the previous year. Pay varies across the UK, ranging from £30,421 to £54,700 per year.
Median Annual Pay
£35,784
as of 2024
Median Hourly Pay
£14.86
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+1.6%
vs 2023
Annual Pay Range
£32,724
–
£39,653
25th – 75th percentile
How Pay Varies Across the UK
Each bar shows how many areas of the UK have a median annual pay in that range for Mining and quarry workers and related operatives roles.
The dashed line marks the national median.
Based on sub-regional area data. Want a precise figure for your area?
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About Mining and quarry workers and related operatives
Quarry workers erect supports in underground workings, set and detonate explosives to loosen rocks and set up and operate drilling equipment to extract coal and other minerals from the ground, and operate machinery to wash, crush or separate stone and ores.
Typical Tasks and Duties
inspects blasting area, drills shot holes, inserts explosives and detonates charges to loosen large pieces of rock, coal or ore
assembles drilling and cutting tools, operates controls to start machines and to regulate the speed and pressure of cutting and drilling
erects timber or metal supports to shore up tunnel and assists tunnel miner with the excavation of vertical shafts and underground tunnels
operates heading, ripping and cutting-loading machines to remove material from working face and monitors conveyor carrying away loose material
conveys goods and materials to and from the workface, loads and unloads mine cars and transfers materials from underground and surface conveyors to bunkers, tubs and rail trucks
operates agitators/vibrators to separate minerals and ensures that screened, filtered, crushed and separated material is discharged to appropriate chutes or conveyors
performs other mining and quarrying tasks not elsewhere classified including digging clay from open pits, operating high-pressure hoses to wash china clay from open pit faces and otherwise assisting miners
Entry Routes and Qualifications
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in land drilling operations at level 2 and processing operations (extractive industries) at level 3 are available. There is a minimum age limit of 18 for underground work.