Mining

Executive Summary of the Division

“The term mining is used in the broad sense to include the extraction of minerals occuring naturally: solids, such as coal and ores; liquids, such as crude petroleum; and gases such as natural gas. The term mining is also used in the broad sense to include quarrying, well operations, milling . . ., and other preparation customarily done at the mine site, or as part of mining activity. . . .
Mining operations are classified, by industry, on the basis of the principal mineral produced, or if there is no production, on the basis of the principal mineral for which exploration or development work is in process.”

(1987 Standard Industrial Classification Manual Pg. 39)

The Major Groups of Mining
  • Metal Mining (SIC 10)
  • Coal Mining (SIC 12)
  • Oil & Gas Extraction (SIC 13)
  • Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals, Except Fuels (SIC 14)


Wyoming Covered Employment

The Major Groups of Mining

The pie chart above shows the percentage of employment that each major group of Wyoming Mining contributes to the industry. This simplistic model reveals where the majority of jobs within the Mining industry are. Almost half of the employment of this division lies in SIC 13 Oil and Gas Extraction. In 1996, Wyoming employed 7,446 individuals in the Oil and Gas Extraction sector.

The Top Employing Occupations within Mining
Employment Wages
Occupational Title Base 1996 Projected 2006 Entry Skilled
87917 Service Unit Operators 1,043 1,211 $7.9 $10.97
87921 Roustabouts 904 906 6.74 9.79
81005 First Line Superv; Const, Extraction 747 806 12.88 21.91
87989 Extraction Workers, Exc Helpers 527 560 10.86 16.84
97938 Grader/Dozer/Scraper Operators 508 553 15.5 22.75
85132 Maintenance Repairers, Gen Utility 470 468 6.84 12.72
97999 Transp/Material Moving Operators, NEC 396 420 6.76 19.47
97102 Truck Drivers, Heavy 380 459 9.64 14.41
87914 Derrick Operators, Oil 371 432 10.13 12.19
98319 Construct Trades Helpers NEC 362 406 N/A N/A
85314 Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics 328 321 11.43 17.98
85119 Machinery Mechanics, NEC 310 327 N/A N/A
97911 Well Head Pumpers 285 332 9.52 19.32
55108 Secretaries, Exc Legal or Medical 273 239 7.1 10.65
55347 General Office Clerks 266 256 5.62 9.03

The Table above shows the top 15 employing occupations within the Wyoming Mining Division. The industry is expected to grow 6.4 percent by the year 2006. That growth represents 1,024 new jobs. Oil and Gas Extraction is expected to have the largest increase within this division due to natural gas drilling. Coal Mining is expected to have a slight decrease due to technology replacing manpower. This division is considered one of the higher paying industries within Wyoming at both the entry and skilled levels.

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