The Mining Technician, Underground Mining, performs any one of several different functions in the mine including the operation of continuous miners, roof bolters, coal haulers, scoops, conveyors, pumps, materials handling equipment, Mine examination, staging of supplies, operating and performing preventive maintenance on ventilation equipment, and power distribution equipment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, any one of the following assigned areas.
+ Continuous Miner Operator
+ Continuous miner equipment operations.
+ Preparation of the mine face
+ Routine and preventative maintenance of the continuous mining machine.
+ Coal Haulage
+ Transfer of coal from continuous miner to feeder
+ Assist Continuous Miner Operator with handling and hanging of cable
+ Replace/repair missing or damaged face ventilation curtains
+ Routine and preventative maintenance of ramcar
+ Changing batteries when necessary
+ Other section work as needed
+ Materials Handling
+ Transports supplies and materials to the sections
+ Trash removal from the sections
+ Roof Bolter Operator.
+ Preparation of the mine face
+ Staging of equipment and supplies
+ Installation of roof support
+ Routine and preventative maintenance of Roof Bolting Machine
+ Section Scoop.
+ Dusts all sections
+ Transport supplies that are needed on section
+ Scooping/ removal of loose material from the face
+ Clean the coal feeder as needed
+ Loads roof bolters with full pods
+ Sets empty pods to be reloaded
+ Routine and preventative maintenance of Scoop
+ Assist with any other jobs needed on the section
+ Mine Examiner
+ Responsible for inspecting, monitoring and reporting out on the following areas, conditions and hazards:
+ Ventilation equipment and measuring air flow.
+ Escape way.
+ Rock dusting.
+ Belt lines.
+ Roof and rib condition.
+ Ambient air conditions (absence of gases).
+ Outby/Preshift Inspection Report
+ Takes results of previous shift's documented hazards and corrects those hazards
+ Inspection of all sections
+ Shovel belt lines
+ Use of hand tools to correct hazards
+ Fill out Outby/Preshift Inspection report outlining hazards that need to be fixed for the next shift
+ Wash out breezeway
+ Face Ventilation
+ Responsible for installing and maintaining all ventilation curtains on the section
+ building and sealing stoppings
+ Assist with handling/hanging continuous miner cable
+ Installation, moving and maintenance of ventilation devices.
+ Assisting with belt and power moves
+ Installation and moving of power distribution equipment.
+ Other duties as assigned
Other Duties/Responsibilities
Responsibilities also include a strong applied knowledge of the following:
+ All underground equipment including the ability to diagnose equipment malfunctions.
+ State and Federal underground mining regulations.
+ Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules.
+ Reading and understanding Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
Supervisory Responsibilities
N/A
Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties in assigned area in a satisfactory fashion. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for this employment position. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE MADE TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS.
Education/Experience
+ High School or GED Required.
+ In addition, all qualified individuals MUST possess one or more of the following in order to be considered for employment at Prairie State:
+ First Class Papers (12 months experience, Certificate of Mine Competency) OR 6 months/180 days of contracting at PSGC and in good standing.
+ Coal Mining Certificate from an accredited college.
+ 2 year Associate's degree in coal mining or related technical field.
+ 4 years or more service and an Honorable discharge from any branch of the military.
+ 3 years underground coal mining experience preferred
+ Must successfully complete applicable pre-employment testing
Certification/Licensure
Must apply for and receive First Class Certificate of Competency (first class papers) within 18 months of employment.
Knowledge of
+ Operating assigned equipment is a safe and effective manner.
+ All state and federal laws and regulations governing the mining of coal.
+ Safety and health hazards associated with the mining of coal.
Skills, abilities and physical requirements
+ Ability to clearly communicate with co-workers, supervisors and others.
+ Ability to read and understand mine plans.
+ Ability to read and understand Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
+ Ability to work any assigned shift, including evenings and weekends.
+ Ability to work overtime as required.
+ Ability to work unsupervised as required.
+ Physical Requirements:
+ Stand for 5 to 10 hours on uneven rocky surfaces
+ Be seated for up to 10 hours to operate equipment or vehicles.
+ Walk for up to four hours at a time in uneven and wet conditions through sections of the mine with varying degrees of clearance and headroom.
+ Lift up to 80 pounds without mechanical assistance.
+ Ability to do overhead work.
+ Work from elevated positions, walk or climb up and down stairways and ladders and climb on and off of equipment and must be able to bend or stoop for a full shift as a result of the mine height.
+ Don and wear required safety equipment including SCSR, respirators, hearing and eye protection, and protective clothing.
Work Environment
The characteristics listed herein describe the work environment the employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this employment position. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE MADE TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS. While performing the duties of this employment position, the employee:
+ Will work in a dusty or damp, dimly lit, and possibly confined work area.
+ Will encounter noise levels that will necessitate the wearing of hearing protection.
ID: 2022-1805
External Company Name: Prairie State Energy Campus
External Company URL: www.prairiestateenergycampus.com
Street: 4274 County Highway 12
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How to hire a mining technician
Mining technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring mining technicians in the United States:
- In the United States, the median cost per hire a mining technician is $1,633.
- It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
- Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
- On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new mining technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.
How to hire a mining technician, step by step
To hire a mining technician, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a mining technician, you should follow these steps:
Here's a step-by-step mining technician hiring guide:
- Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
- Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
- Step 3: Make a budget
- Step 4: Write a mining technician job description
- Step 5: Post your job
- Step 6: Interview candidates
- Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mining technician
- Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
Post a mining technician job for free, promote it for a fee
Identify your hiring needs
Before you post your mining technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a mining technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.
Determine employee vs contractor statusIs the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a mining technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a mining technician that fits the bill.
This list presents mining technician salaries for various positions.
Type of Mining Technician Description Hourly rate Mining Technician Geological and petroleum technicians provide support to scientists and engineers in exploring and extracting natural resources, such as minerals, oil, and natural gas. $13-32 Technician Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with... Show more $11-27 Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:- Loaders
- MSHA
- Autocad
- Coal Mining
- GPS
- Electrical Systems
- Production Equipment
Responsibilities:- Manage system and application support for internal customers including software installation and PC upgrades.
- Ensure that all operations are in full compliance with MSHA's strict regulations.
- Compose written reports of data collect from patient evaluation and present to department chief for thorough analysis of patient diagnosis.
- Enter and retrieve information using MAXIMO work management and tracking system.
- Experience in using MAXIMO for tracking work orders, preventive maintenance schedules.
- Establish productive working relationships with virtually every specialty NOC and vendor.
Make a budget
Including a salary range in your mining technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A mining technician salary can vary based on several factors:- Location. For example, mining technicians' average salary in nebraska is 30% less than in new jersey.
- Seniority. Entry-level mining technicians earn 59% less than senior-level mining technicians.
- Certifications. A mining technician 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 mining technician's salary.
Average mining technician salary
$44,506yearly
$21.40 hourly rateEntry-level mining technician salary$28,000 yearly salaryUpdated December 19, 2025Writing a mining technician job description
A job description for a mining technician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a mining technician job description:
Mining technician job description example
Post your job
There are various strategies that you can use to find the right mining technician for your business:
- Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
- Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
- Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
- Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
- Post your mining technician job on Zippia to find and recruit mining technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
Recruiting mining technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.
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.
Send a job offer and onboard your new mining technician
Once you've found the mining technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.
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.
To prepare for the new mining technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.
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 mining technician?
Hiring a mining technician comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting mining technicians involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of mining technician recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.
The median annual salary for mining technicians is $44,506 in the US. However, the cost of mining technician hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a mining technician for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $13 and $32 an hour.
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Updated December 19, 2025