Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Roof bolters in mining secure roofs and sidewalls in underground mines, helping maintain structural stability in these environments. This occupation combines physical, mechanical, and problem-solving demands, making it suitable for people who are comfortable with hands-on, detail-oriented work. Nationally, employment is relatively small at about 2,000 workers, and the role draws on a mix of physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, mechanical ability, and solid decision-making. Strong interpersonal skills, adaptability, and leadership also matter, since roof bolters often work as part of coordinated teams in challenging conditions. While overall projected employment growth for this occupation is negative, there are still pockets of opportunity in certain states and metro areas where wages can be especially strong. For individuals interested in underground mining work who meet the physical demands and can develop the listed skills, roof bolting can offer a focused, specialized path within the mining sector, with potential alternatives in related mining and industrial trades if needs or interests change over time.
Roof bolters, mining earn a national median annual salary of $76,640, indicating solid earning potential for a role that typically requires only a high school diploma or equivalent. Pay varies by location, which can significantly influence overall compensation. For example, among the top states by opportunity score, Wyoming shows the highest listed median salary at $116,570, notably higher than other leading states like Illinois ($81,860) and Colorado ($81,270). Virginia’s median of $78,260 and Alabama’s $67,020 illustrate that different mining regions offer distinct pay levels. At the metro level, Beckley, WV reports a median salary of $77,920, higher than Wheeling, WV-OH at $66,610. These differences suggest that job seekers willing to consider multiple locations may find substantially different earning possibilities, especially in states or metros with higher median wages paired with reasonable opportunity scores.
Nationally, roof bolters, mining face a projected employment decline of -34.2%, with an estimate of 0 annual openings. With total national employment around 2,000 workers, this means the occupation is relatively small and expected to contract further. The negative growth projection indicates fewer positions overall in the coming years, and the lack of projected annual openings suggests limited new hiring opportunities at the national level. Even in top states and metros ranked by opportunity score, the projected growth rate is consistently -34.2%. For job seekers, this makes careful planning especially important. Anyone considering this path should be aware that opportunities may be concentrated in specific regions and that long-term employment prospects in this exact occupation are expected to shrink. Exploring related roles in similar occupations, such as other underground mining machine operators or structural trades, can provide additional options if demand for roof bolters continues to decline.
Location matters a great deal for roof bolters, mining, both in terms of wages and concentration of jobs. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, Colorado leads with an opportunity score of 56.97, a median salary of $81,270, and employment of 40, showing a blend of pay and opportunity in a relatively small workforce. Virginia follows with a score of 54.96, median pay of $78,260, and employment of 110, suggesting a somewhat larger employment base. Illinois stands out for having the highest employment among these top states at 200, with a median salary of $81,860 and an opportunity score of 41.09. Wyoming offers the highest state-level median salary at $116,570 with employment of 100 but a lower opportunity score of 32.08, while Alabama has a median salary of $67,020 and a score of 26.55. At the metro level, Beckley, WV has a higher median salary ($77,920) and employment (190) than Wheeling, WV-OH, which reports $66,610 and 120 jobs, along with a slightly higher opportunity score for Wheeling (35.53 vs. 33.77).
The typical education requirement for roof bolters, mining is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this a career path that does not require a college degree to enter. However, the skill profile is broad and demanding. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor skills are central, reflecting the physical and precise nature of the work. Mechanical skills are also important, alongside being detail oriented, which helps support accuracy and safety. Leadership and project management abilities indicate that roof bolters may need to coordinate tasks and contribute to organized work processes. Science knowledge, adaptability, interpersonal skills, and problem solving and decision making round out the profile, highlighting both technical and people-focused dimensions. For someone with a high school education, developing this mix of physical, mechanical, and cognitive skills can make them more competitive for roof bolter roles and provide a foundation that can transfer to similar occupations in mining and related trades.
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