How to hire a mine engineer

How to hire a mine engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mine engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a mine engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mine engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a mine engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The mine engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A mine engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, mine engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents mine engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Mine Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Mine Engineer	Mining and geological engineers design mines to safely and efficiently remove minerals such as coal and metals for use in manufacturing and utilities.	$29-54
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Mine Planning
   • Ventilation
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Project Management
   • Safety Standards
   • MSHA
   • Extraction
   • Technical Reports
   • Range Planning
   • CAD
   • Geotechnical
   • Mine Operations
   • Engineering Functions
   • Technical Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage exploration RC drilling program in a remote location.
   • Manage daily dragline operations and weekly repair schedules.
   • Conduct time-and-motion studies and performance of truck-and-shovel analysis and efficiently allocate trucks to shovels and attain optimum productivity.
   • Mine production 2 million TPY and 12 million CY excavate per year.
   • Coordinate construction projects with independent contractors and performing altimeter ventilation surveys.
   • Engineer mine plan and life-of-mine programs utilizing Carlson Civil/Hydrology/Survey and Vulcan software.

   More mine engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mine engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A mine engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, mine engineers' average salary in hawaii is 48% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mine engineers earn 46% less than senior-level mine engineers.
   • Certifications. A mine engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a mine engineer's salary.

   Average mine engineer salary

   $83,246yearly

   $40.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mine engineer salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average mine engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$116,798	$56
   2	Texas	$95,917	$46
   3	Alaska	$94,234	$45
   4	Colorado	$89,863	$43
   5	Arizona	$87,935	$42
   6	Washington	$85,619	$41
   7	Nevada	$85,075	$41
   8	Nebraska	$77,257	$37
   9	Pennsylvania	$76,299	$37
   10	Minnesota	$74,979	$36
   11	Virginia	$74,591	$36
   12	Louisiana	$72,443	$35
   13	Utah	$72,366	$35
   14	Missouri	$72,029	$35

   Average mine engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chevron	$121,208	$58.27
   2	Peabody Energy	$119,846	$57.62
   3	Koch Industries	$113,774	$54.70
   4	Energy	$112,878	$54.27
   5	Yelp	$112,042	$53.87
   6	Helmerich & Payne	$102,000	$49.04
   7	MySpace NYC	$98,743	$47.47
   8	Cargill	$96,507	$46.40	7
   9	Riot Games	$95,730	$46.02
   10	Micron Technology	$90,996	$43.75	2
   11	Albemarle	$90,893	$43.70
   12	Trulia	$90,070	$43.30
   13	Pinnacle Technical Resources	$89,190	$42.88	1
   14	North American Corporation	$88,287	$42.45
   15	Pitney Bowes	$87,612	$42.12
   16	Coeur Mining	$87,170	$41.91	2
   17	Aviana Global	$86,984	$41.82
   18	Lhoist	$86,726	$41.70	3
   19	Martin Marietta	$86,452	$41.56
   20	Newmont	$86,346	$41.51

4. Writing a mine engineer job description

   A mine engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a mine engineer job description:

   Mine engineer job description example

   Job Description: RESPEC, an internationally recognized engineering consulting and services company with domestic and international projects, seeks an entry-level engineer in its Lexington, Kentucky, office. RESPEC's current projects focus on mining limestone, coal, salt, potash, phosphates, and other industrial minerals as well as Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) projects. Domestic and international travel may be required for client development, visits to client mine sites, and client and corporate meetings.
   Qualifications:
   
   + Bachelor of science degree in mining engineering, civil engineering, or environmental engineering
   
   + Passed or in pursuit of The Fundamental of Engineering exam
   
   + Engineering-related software experience, such as AutoCAD Map 3D, Carlson, Surpac, Vulcan, and other commercial packages
   
   + Internship or full-time working experience position related to mining engineering, civil engineering, or environmental engineering
   
   + Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
   
   Compensation: Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown. Compensation includes a comprehensive fringe-benefits package that consists of medical, vision, dental, holidays, paid leave, 401(k) Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), continuing education, and professional societies. RESPEC is a 100% employee-owned company and employees are eligible for participation in the ESOP after a qualifying period.
   
   Interviews: Interviews will be by appointment only.
   
   Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown. Compensation includes a comprehensive fringe-benefits package that consists of medical, vision, dental, holidays, paid leave, 401(k) Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), continuing education, and professional societies. RESPEC is a 100% employee-owned company and employees are eligible for participation in the ESOP after a qualifying period.
   
   Interviews: Interviews will be by appointment only. Recruiters, please do not contact this job poster. Please do not contact us with unsolicited services or offers.
   
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   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right mine engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with mine engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit mine engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mine engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit mine engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit mine engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mine engineer

   Once you've selected the best mine engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new mine engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a mine engineer?