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Occupation AtlasContinuous Mining Machine Operators

O*NET · 47-5041.00

Continuous Mining Machine Operators

Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, shuttle cars, or trucks in a continuous operation.

Also called Bore Miner Operator · Bulldozer Operator · CMO · Concrete Crusher Loader Operator · Continuous Miner · Continuous Miner Operator (CMO) · Continuous Mining Machine Coal Miner · Continuous Mining Machine Company Miner
28 more

Continuous Mining Machine Contract Miner · Continuous Mining Machine Lode Miner · Continuous Mining Machine Miner · Continuous Mining Machine Operator · Continuous Mining Operator (CMO) · Crusher Loader Equipment Operator · Crusher Loader Operator · Crusher Operator · Crusher Plant Operator · Dozer Operator · Equipment Operator · Excavator Operator · Forklift Operator · Forklift Wheel Loader · Front End Wheel Loader Operator · Heavy Equipment Operator · Loader Operator · Logging Shovel Operator · Material Equipment Operator · Mine Technician · Mine Utility Operator · Miner · Miner Operator · Quarry Plant Crusher Operator · Self-Propelled Mining Machine Operator · Shovel Log Loader Operator · Shovel Operator · Wheel Loader Operator

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCI35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCIRealistic · Conventional · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic6.97
  • C Conventional4.07
  • I Investigative2.50
  • E Enterprising1.34
  • S Social1.04
  • A Artistic1.00

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma4%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent81%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate10%
  • Some College Courses5%
Related work experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (41%)
On-site or in-plant training
Up to and including 1 month (39%)
On-the-job training
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (47%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Operations Monitoring3.93.9Level 4 looks like: Monitor machine functions on an automated production line
  • Operation and Control3.93.6Level 4 looks like: Adjust the speed of assembly line equipment based on the product being assembled
  • Equipment Maintenance3.43.4Level 4 looks like: Clean moving parts in production machinery
  • Critical Thinkingbasic3.33.1Level 4 looks like: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses
  • Troubleshooting3.33.0Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
  • Repairing3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Tighten a screw to get a door to close properly
  • Complex Problem Solving3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Monitoringbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Proofread and correct a letter
  • Active Listeningbasic3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Time Management3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Speakingbasic3.02.3Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
Show the other 23
  • Quality Control Analysis2.92.5Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Coordination2.83.0Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
  • Active Learningbasic2.82.5Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic2.82.3Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Social Perceptiveness2.82.3Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Management of Personnel Resources2.62.8Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.42.5Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Instructing2.42.4Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Equipment Selection2.42.3Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
  • Service Orientation2.42.1Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Persuasion2.12.3Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Systems Analysis2.12.3Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Systems Evaluation2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Writingbasic2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Negotiation2.02.1Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Mathematicsbasic2.01.4Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Operations Analysis1.91.3Level 2 looks like: Select a printer for an office
  • Installation1.91.1Level 2 looks like: Install a new air filter in an air conditioner
  • Technology Design1.60.8
  • Management of Financial Resources1.40.4
  • Management of Material Resources1.40.4
  • Sciencebasic1.4—
  • Programming1.0—

Tasks

10 core · 5 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.4.8
  2. Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.4.7
  3. Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.4.7
  4. Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.4.6
  5. Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.4.5
  6. Drive machines into position at working faces.4.5
  7. Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.4.5
  8. Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.4.4
  9. Observe and listen to equipment operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment malfunctions.4.3
  10. Repair, oil, and adjust machines, and change cutting teeth, using wrenches.4.2
Show the other 5
  1. Install casings to prevent cave-ins.4.4
  2. Move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing.4.2
  3. Scrape or wash conveyors, using belt scrapers or belt washers, to minimize dust production.4.2
  4. Apply new technologies developed to minimize the environmental impact of coal mining.3.8
  5. Guide and assist crews laying track and resetting supports and blocking.3.7

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Mechanical3.94.7Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
  • Production and Processing3.73.7Level 4 looks like: Supervise an appliance assembly line
  • Law and Government3.43.4Level 4 looks like: Prepare documents and title papers for the purchase of a new house
  • Education and Training3.33.9Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
  • Administration and Management2.82.8
  • English Language2.82.4Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Public Safety and Security2.72.7
  • Transportation2.73.0Level 4 looks like: Drive a semi-truck through a busy city
Show all 33
  • Design2.62.5Level 1 looks like: Draw a straight line 4 3/16 inches long
  • Engineering and Technology2.62.7
  • Mathematics2.62.8
  • Building and Construction2.52.7
  • Telecommunications2.42.0Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.32.0Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Customer and Personal Service2.21.4Level 1 looks like: Process a customer's dry-cleaning drop off
  • Communications and Media2.11.9Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Physics2.12.2Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
  • Computers and Electronics1.91.5Level 1 looks like: Operate a media player to watch a training video
  • Geography1.91.7Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • Psychology1.91.7Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Chemistry1.81.8Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
  • Administrative1.71.3Level 1 looks like: Direct phone calls to the appropriate staff member
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.71.2Level 1 looks like: Use a band-aid
  • Sales and Marketing1.61.1Level 1 looks like: Sell cakes at a bake sale
  • Biology1.50.9Level 1 looks like: Feed domestic animals
  • Economics and Accounting1.50.9Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.50.8Level 1 looks like: Identify two cultures in a story as being different
  • History and Archeology1.4—
  • Therapy and Counseling1.4—
  • Food Production1.2—
  • Foreign Language1.1—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.1—
  • Fine Arts1.0—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Control Precision4.04.0Level 4 looks like: Adjust farm tractor controls
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.93.1Level 4 looks like: Thread a needle
  • Multilimb Coordination3.83.9Level 4 looks like: Operate a forklift truck in a warehouse
  • Problem Sensitivity3.83.6Level 4 looks like: Notice from a subtle difference in a client's mood that something is bothering them
  • Reaction Time3.84.0Level 4 looks like: Press a button to stop operation when a warning light goes off
  • Near Vision3.63.3Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Rate Control3.63.5Level 4 looks like: Keep up with a car that changes speed
  • Depth Perception3.53.5Level 4 looks like: Operate a crane to move materials from a truck bed to the ground
Show all 52
  • Hearing Sensitivity3.53.4Level 4 looks like: Diagnose what's wrong with a car engine from its sound
  • Selective Attention3.53.0Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
  • Far Vision3.43.5Level 4 looks like: Read the slides on a presentation from across a room
  • Manual Dexterity3.43.4Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
  • Deductive Reasoning3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Extent Flexibility3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
  • Flexibility of Closure3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Look for a golf ball in tall grass
  • Inductive Reasoning3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Determine the prime suspect based on crime scene evidence
  • Oral Expression3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Place an order at a restaurant drive-thru
  • Perceptual Speed3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Read five pressure indicators in 10 seconds to make sure each is within safe limits
  • Response Orientation3.13.5Level 4 looks like: Use either the brake or gas pedal when your vehicle is skidding
  • Trunk Strength3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Shovel snow for half an hour
  • Auditory Attention3.03.9Level 4 looks like: Listen for your flight announcement at a busy airport
  • Category Flexibility3.03.0Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Finger Dexterity3.03.1Level 4 looks like: Attach small dials to audio equipment on an assembly line
  • Information Ordering3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Static Strength3.03.5Level 4 looks like: Pull a 40-pound sack of fertilizer across the lawn
  • Time Sharing3.02.9Level 3 looks like: Watch street signs while driving at 30 miles an hour
  • Visual Color Discrimination3.03.0Level 4 looks like: Trace electrical circuits marked by various colored wires
  • Visualization3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Imagine how to place paper in a printer so that the letterhead comes out on top
  • Oral Comprehension2.93.5Level 4 looks like: Understand a coach's oral instructions for a sport
  • Speech Clarity2.92.4Level 1 looks like: Call numbers in a bingo game
  • Speech Recognition2.92.3Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Dynamic Strength2.82.5Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Spatial Orientation2.82.6Level 3 looks like: Find your way through a dark room without hitting anything
  • Stamina2.82.8
  • Glare Sensitivity2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Gross Body Coordination2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Night Vision2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Read street signs at dusk (just after sunset)
  • Sound Localization2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Listen to a sound system to determine which speaker is working
  • Speed of Closure2.62.6Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
  • Fluency of Ideas2.42.4Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Written Comprehension2.42.4Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Peripheral Vision2.32.0Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
  • Speed of Limb Movement2.32.3Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
  • Wrist-Finger Speed2.31.8Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Written Expression2.32.1Level 1 looks like: Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezer
  • Memorization2.12.1Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Originality2.12.3Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Gross Body Equilibrium2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Explosive Strength1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Hit a nail with a hammer
  • Mathematical Reasoning1.91.4Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Number Facility1.91.4Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.50.8

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Controlling Machines and Processes4.45.5Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.24.7Level 4 looks like: Drive an 18-wheel tractor-trailer
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.14.9Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.04.4Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.94.1Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment3.94.5Level 4 looks like: Change the oil on a tractor
  • Getting Information3.73.3Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.63.8Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
Show all 41
  • Handling and Moving Objects3.64.7Level 4 looks like: Arrange books in a library
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.63.8Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.63.9Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Training and Teaching Others3.63.7Level 4 looks like: Teach a social sciences course to high school students
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.44.0Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.33.8Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment3.33.6Level 4 looks like: Make repairs by removing and replacing circuit boards
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others3.23.5Level 4 looks like: Organize the cleanup crew after a major sporting event
  • Performing General Physical Activities3.24.1Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Analyzing Data or Information3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Determine the interest cost to finance a new building
  • Developing and Building Teams3.13.2Level 4 looks like: Lead an assembly team in an automobile plant
  • Assisting and Caring for Others3.03.0Level 4 looks like: Help a medical patient find in-home assistance or healthcare
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.03.4Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People2.93.3Level 4 looks like: Determine the value of property lost in a fire
  • Thinking Creatively2.93.2Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies2.82.8
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information2.82.8
  • Processing Information2.82.8
  • Scheduling Work and Activities2.82.9
  • Coaching and Developing Others2.72.4Level 1 looks like: Show a coworker how to operate a piece of equipment
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates2.72.7
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.72.8
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.52.2Level 1 looks like: Interpret a blood pressure reading
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.42.2Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Documenting/Recording Information2.31.9Level 1 looks like: Record the weight of a patient during a routine health exam
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources2.32.3Level 1 looks like: Work as a server responsible for keeping track of utensils
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.32.3Level 1 looks like: Apologize to a customer who complains about waiting too long
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization1.91.3Level 1 looks like: Have little contact with people outside the organization
  • Working with Computers1.91.3Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database
  • Selling or Influencing Others1.71.2Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment
  • Staffing Organizational Units1.61.2Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public1.51.2Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert
  • Performing Administrative Activities1.4—

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Exposed to Contaminants5.0
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.9
  • Exposed to Hazardous Equipment4.8
  • Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.8
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.8
  • Frequency of Decision Making4.7
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.6
  • Health and Safety of Other Workers4.5
  • Contact With Others4.4

Technology

8 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (4)

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
Other tools (4)
  • Fleet monitoring system software
  • Hitachi ZXLink
  • Leica Geosystems FMS
  • Minitab

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
  2. Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
  3. Helpers--Extraction Workers
  4. Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
  5. Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
  6. Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
  7. Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
  8. Maintenance Workers, Machinery
  9. Crane and Tower Operators
  10. Industrial Machinery Mechanics

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.