Continuous Mining Machine Operators

Continuous Mining Machine Operators score 0 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #876 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 15 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

0/ 100

Low

Rank: #876of 923 jobs
US workers: 14,000BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $61,810a year
In real AI use: 0 of 15tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 15 (100%)

Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Drive machines into position at working faces.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Observe and listen to equipment operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment malfunctions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Repair, oil, and adjust machines, and change cutting teeth, using wrenches.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Install casings to prevent cave-ins.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Scrape or wash conveyors, using belt scrapers or belt washers, to minimize dust production.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Move levers to raise and lower hydraulic safety bars supporting roofs above machines until other workers complete framing.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Apply new technologies developed to minimize the environmental impact of coal mining.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Guide and assist crews laying track and resetting supports and blocking.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about continuous mining machine operators and AI

Will AI replace continuous mining machine operators?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Continuous Mining Machine Operators score 0 out of 100 (low exposure), #876 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 0 of the job's 15 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 15 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which continuous mining machine operators tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated"; "Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air"; "Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as continuous mining machine operators, and what do they earn?

About 14,000 people in the US, with median pay of $61,810 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.