Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

Most exposed tasks

Highest structured exposure values in this role’s task mix — the work AI systems can already do most of.

No strongly automatable task in the current data release.

Augmentable tasks

Work where AI assists rather than replaces — the productivity frontier of this role.

• Direct workers engaged in placing blocks or outriggers to prevent capsizing of machines when lifting heavy loads.46
• Measure and verify levels of rock or gravel, bases, or other excavated material.46
• Direct ground workers engaged in activities such as moving stakes or markers, or changing positions of towers.46

Most durable tasks

Lowest exposure — typically judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability. This is the human moat.

• Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.31
• Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.31
• Adjust dig face angles for varying overburden depths and set lengths.31

Task exposure values and classifications come from the versioned data release — they are structured data, not model output. Bars show exposure contribution relative to this role’s task mix.

What this means

A score of 38 puts Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the least-exposed quarter of analyzed occupations. In practice, exposure this level is about the mix: 0 of 16 analyzed tasks lean automatable, 11 augmentable, and 5 durable. The useful question isn’t “will AI take this job” — it’s which tasks go first, which get faster, and where to reposition time. That’s what the personalized report maps against your actual week.

One next move: lean into the durable core above and adopt AI on the routine remainder before it becomes a mandate.

Lower-exposure adjacent roles

Shown only when the target is at least 10 points lower under the same score version and skill overlap is at least 50%. These are adjacent roles with lower task exposure — not guaranteed “safe careers”.

Labor-market context

• $57,430median wage
• 34,480employed
• 3,100annual openings
• -0.6%projected growth

Context only — labor statistics are not inputs to the exposure score. See methodology.

Related roles

Adjacent by skills or family — no exposure claim implied.

• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 34
• Hoist and Winch Operators 41
• Continuous Mining Machine Operators 29
• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines 40
• Crane and Tower Operators 44
• Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 45

FAQ — Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

What does a score of 38 mean for a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?

It means that, weighted across the 16 tasks we analyzed for this role, the task mix sits at 38 on a 0–100 exposure scale — in the least-exposed quarter of analyzed occupations. It measures task exposure to current and near-term AI capabilities, not the probability of losing a job.

Which tasks in this role are most exposed to AI?

This role has no strongly automatable task in the current data release.

Which parts of this job are most durable?

The most durable responsibilities are: Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes; Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads; Adjust dig face angles for varying overburden depths and set lengths. Durable tasks typically depend on judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability.

Is this score personalized to me?

No — this page shows the occupation-level baseline. Two people with the same title often do different work. The $9 personalized report recalculates the score from the tasks you actually do and builds a concrete 7/30/90-day plan around them.