Average wage and salary earnings in mining were significantly higher than the average for all industries. In 2002, production workers, earned $20.57 an hour in coal mining, $20.54 an hour in metal mining, and $16.57 an hour in nonmetallic minerals mining compared to the private industry average of $14.95 an hour. Workers in underground mines spend time traveling from the mine entrance to their working areas, so that their paid workday is slightly longer than that of surface mine workers, 8 hours versus 7 1/4-hour shifts.

Around 21 percent of mineworkers are union members or are covered by union contracts, compared with about 15 percent of workers throughout private industry. About 23.7 percent of workers in coal mining and 29.2 percent in metal mining were union members in 2002, compared with about 13.8 percent of workers in nonmetallic mineral mining. Union coal miners are primarily represented by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). The United Steelworkers of America, the International Union of Operating Engineers, and other unions also represent miners.

Workers covered by UMWA contracts receive 11 paid holidays, 12 days of paid vacation each year, 4 additional floating holidays, and 5 days of sick leave; however, coal miners generally must take their vacations during 1 of 3 regular vacation periods, to assure a continuous supply of coal. As length of service increases, UMWA miners get up to 13 extra vacation days after 18 years of continuous employment. Union workers also receive benefits from a welfare and retirement fund.