Roof bolters, mining
Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.
Roof bolters, mining operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine. The role reports a median annual salary of $76,640 in the US and is projected to decline by 34% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.43 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Troubleshooting.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £38,301 a year for Mining and quarry workers and related operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8132). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Plant and machine operators and assemblers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Roof bolters, mining, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 8. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
What you'd actually do
- Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.
- Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported.
- Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks.
- Perform safety checks on equipment before operating.
- Perform tests to determine if methane gas is present.
- Force bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Roof bolters, mining do?
Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.
How much does Roof bolters, mining earn?
The median annual salary for Roof bolters, mining in the US is $76,640.
What is the job outlook for Roof bolters, mining?
The role is projected to decline by 34% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 2,300 workers.
How do I become roof bolters, mining?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Roof bolters, mining need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Equipment Maintenance. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Roof bolters, mining?
Our AI-durability model gives Roof bolters, mining a score of 0.43 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Roof bolters, mining has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.