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The AI Resilience Report helps you understand how AI is likely to impact your current or future career. Drawing on data from over 1,500 occupations, it provides a clear snapshot to support informed career decisions.
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Not Very Resilient
Last Update: 4/23/2026
Your role’s AI Resilience Score is
28.8%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Low
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Low
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Very few data sources cover this career, or the available sources disagree significantly. Treat this score as a rough estimate.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forUnderground Mining Machine Operators, All Other
Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other are less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 3 sources.
This career is labeled as "Not Very Resilient" because many tasks traditionally done by underground mining machine operators, such as operating conveyor belts and drilling, are increasingly being automated with advanced sensors and remote controls. While these technologies improve safety and efficiency, they reduce the need for human operators to perform repetitive tasks.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreThis role is not very resilient
This career is labeled as "Not Very Resilient" because many tasks traditionally done by underground mining machine operators, such as operating conveyor belts and drilling, are increasingly being automated with advanced sensors and remote controls. While these technologies improve safety and efficiency, they reduce the need for human operators to perform repetitive tasks.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Underground Mining Ops
Updated Quarterly • Last Update: 2/17/2026
How is AI changing Underground Mining Ops jobs?
Mining tasks are being automated step by step. For example, conveyor belts underground are often run by computer controls and sensors now, not just by people pushing buttons [1]. Some systems have vibration and speed sensors to sound alarms or even adjust belt speed automatically [1].
Drilling machines and miners’ cutting tools are also seeing more automation. Longwall and roof-drilling machines, for instance, use sensors so they can move from one cut to the next and position roof shields automatically [1]. Many new drills can be run by a remote operator with cameras, so a miner oversees them from a safe spot rather than directly at the machine [1].
At the same time, human workers still do a lot of hands-on work. Miners replace worn parts, fix machines, and install supports. AI and smart sensors help here too: one study showed AI could analyze machine data (like temperature or wear) to predict failures and schedule repairs, cutting costs and downtime [1].
In short, machines can alert miners when parts need changing, but people still get the job done. Placing jacks, timbers, and other roof supports is especially a human task today – mining robots for that are not common yet. Overall, automation tends to handle repetitive motions (moving belts or basic drilling), while miners still do the more complex, flexible tasks.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Underground Mining Ops?
There are good reasons mining companies experiment with AI. New tools can make mines safer and more efficient [1]. For example, removing people from dangerous areas (with machines doing the hard work) cuts accidents.
Recent reports note mining spending more on automation and remote operation to boost safety and deal with worker shortages [1] [2]. The COVID-19 era showed that using remote-controlled equipment helps keep operations running under difficult conditions [2] [1].
But adoption is slow in some cases. Underground mines are hard places: it’s tough to get GPS signal or Wi-Fi deep underground [1], so full robot-driving is tricky. Upfront costs are high – setting up reliable networks and buying smart machines takes money.
Also, local crews need training to use and fix these systems [1]. In places where labor costs are low, companies may delay automation. Socially, miners and unions want tech that helps rather than replaces people.
In short, AI rolls out as tech improves and costs drop, but miners’ skills (judgment, safety work, repairs) remain essential [1] [1].
Sources
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More Career Info
Career: Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other
They operate machines underground to safely extract minerals and resources from the earth, ensuring efficient and smooth mining operations.
Parent Careers
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$67,220
Jobs (2024)
3,600
Growth (2024-34)
-6.1%
Annual Openings
400
Education
No formal educational credential
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Free jams in planer hoppers, using metal pinch bars.
2
Position jacks, timbers, or roof supports, and install casings, to prevent cave-ins.
3
Replace worn or broken tools and machine bits and parts, using wrenches, pry bars, and other hand tools, and lubricate machines, using grease guns.
4
Signal truck drivers to position their vehicles for receiving shale from planer hoppers.
5
Move controls to start and position drill cutters or torches and advance tools into mines or quarry faces to complete horizontal or vertical cuts.
6
Reposition machines and move controls to make additional holes or cuts.
7
Move planer levers to control and adjust the movement of equipment, the speed, height, and depth of cuts, and to rotate swivel cutting booms.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
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