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Coal mining. Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground or from a mine. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production.
- Overview
- What is a coal miner?
- What does a coal miner do?
- How to become a coal miner
- Skills needed for a coal miner
- Work environment
- Salary and job outlook
A coal miner is a well-paying job that you don't typically need to obtain an advanced degree to perform. If you want to become a coal miner, it can be helpful to understand the physical, educational and professional requirements you may need to get a mining position. Learning about how to become a coal miner can allow you to decide if this career p...
A coal miner is someone who specializes in removing coal from the ground and bringing it to the surface. Coal miners can work in underground or surface mines and use a variety of techniques to extract coal from the earth. Some coal miners specialize in particular methods of extraction, which might improve their overall pay.
There are many methods a coal miner may use to extract coal from a mine. Each method requires different tools and job duties. Some of the common duties of a coal miner include:
•Operating explosives
•Building support entryways for mining corridors
•Transporting coal
•Moving mining equipment
•Repairing tools and support structures
1. Fulfill basic requirements
Coal miners don't usually need any advanced education, but they do need to fulfill some basic qualifications for their position. You must be at least 18 years old to become a coal miner and have a high school diploma or GED. Coal miners may also need to meet physical requirements such as full mobility in their limbs, strong eyesight or hearing and successful completion of a physical exam.Related: How To Get Mining Jobs (With FAQs)
2. Research mines
The details and particular requirements to become a coal miner can vary based on the location of a mine, which means you may want to choose a general area before pursuing a coal miner certification. If you live close to a mine, consider researching the requirements for becoming a coal miner in your state. Otherwise, try to find a mine or series of mines that you may want to work at and research qualification details for that area.
3. Complete coal miner training
Before you can become a coal miner, you must complete a series of mining training courses. These courses teach basic mining techniques, machine operating procedures and safety precautions. While specific programs vary by state, coal miner training generally includes about 40 hours of in-class training, with eight to 16 of these hours at an actual mining site.
Manual dexterity
Coal miners physically remove coal out of the earth safely and while ensuring the coal and the area around them remain intact. This requires some fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. You can improve your manual dexterity by practicing a hobby that also requires fine motor skills, such as sewing or woodworking.
Comfort working in small spaces
It can help to feel comfortable in smaller spaces while working as a coal miner. This is because the working conditions of mines often require you to perform your duties in narrow areas. For instance, you may work hundreds of feet underground in small passageways with limited space for machinery.
Heavy machinery skills
There are several types of mining techniques used to extract objects from the ground. Many of these techniques require the operation of heavy machinery. Coal miners who understand how to run the various heavy machines used at their mine may work more efficiently and might receive a higher salary for their machinery knowledge.
Underground mines
Underground mines are often the source of coal. An underground mine is a mine that's created by digging tunnels underneath the surface of an area. The work environment in an underground mine is often narrow tunnels with limited areas for machines or people.
Surface mines
A surface or open-pit mine is a mine that's created by constructing a large open area with steep sides where coal miners extract materials closer to the surface. Surface mines can support more employees than underground mines and have fewer limits to the type of machinery they can use. This may lead to louder, more crowded work environments.Related: Pros and Cons of Working as a Surface Miner Do you need help with your resume?
The national average salary for a coal miner is $78,956 per year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job outlook for the related position of mining and geological engineers to grow by 4% from 2020 to 2030. Salary and job outlook may vary depending on location, amount of experience or specific mining roles such as machine operator or extraction worker.
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History of coal miners. Coal miner in Wheelwright, Kentucky, 1946. People have worked as coal miners for centuries, but they became increasingly important during the Industrial revolution when coal was burnt on a large scale to fuel stationary and locomotive engines and heat buildings. Owing to coal's strategic role as a primary fuel, coal ...
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Jul 1, 2024 · coal mining, extraction of coal deposits from the surface of Earth and from underground. Tavantolgoi coal mine, southern Gobi, Mongolia. Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel on Earth. Its predominant use has always been for producing heat energy. It was the basic energy source that fueled the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th ...
Coal mining is an industry in transition in the United States. Production in 2019 was down 40% from the peak production of 1,171.8 million short tons (1,063 million metric tons) in 2008. Employment of 43,000 coal miners is down from a peak of 883,000 in 1923. [1] Generation of electricity is the largest user of coal, being used to produce 50% ...
Oct 5, 2019 · In the US, coal mining is a shrinking industry. In 1923, there were about 883,000 coal miners; today there are about 53,000. Working in coal mines is dangerous — miners have to deal with toxic ...
