Mining Engineer Career Guide,
Salary, Licence & Jobs 2026

Mining engineers are counted by BLS under Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers (SOC 17-2151), where the OEWS May 2025 median is $106,220 a year, about $51.07 an hour, from $67,490 at the 10th percentile to $169,990 at the 90th. Engineers running mine planning and design for larger surface or underground operations, and those with a PE license, earn toward the upper part of that range, with chief-engineer roles approaching the top decile.

Start with an ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in mining engineering or a closely related field. Gain experience at surface or underground operations on mine planning, surveying, ventilation and ground control, and complete the MSHA Part 46 or Part 48 training required to work at mine sites. For engineering work that must be signed, pursue a Professional Engineer license by passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering and the Mining and Mineral Processing PE exam with qualifying experience.

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A mining engineer designs and plans mines. They lay out underground and surface operations, size ventilation, ground support and haulage, sequence extraction, and engineer the safe and economic recovery of ore and minerals. They work closely with geologists and operations, run feasibility and cost analyses, and ensure designs meet MSHA safety requirements — some specialize specifically as mining safety engineers within the same occupational code.

For much engineering work, yes. Mining engineers must complete MSHA Part 46 (surface) or Part 48 (underground) training to work at mine sites, and for engineering documents that must be sealed or signed — or to advance into certain senior roles — a Professional Engineer (PE) license is required. The PE is earned through the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam and the Mining and Mineral Processing PE exam, plus qualifying experience, and is issued by a state board.

It is projected to grow only modestly. BLS projects the Mining and Geological Engineers code to grow about 0.7% over 2024–2034, slower than average, with roughly 400 openings a year in a small, specialized occupation. Critical-mineral and metals demand, mine-safety engineering and reclamation and automation projects sustain steady work, but the occupation is small, so openings arise mainly as engineers retire or move on.

For people who want to engineer large-scale extraction, yes: mining engineer sits in a code with a $106,220 median and up to $169,990 at the top. It requires an ABET degree, MSHA training and often a PE, the occupation is small with modest 0.7% projected growth, and work is often at remote sites, but it offers strong pay, specialized demand and a clear path to chief-engineer and management roles.