On average, people spend about one-third of their lives at work. That makes your choice of a career an incredibly important part of your life. In this special edition of the NMA's Mining Minute, we're going to look at one of the best careers you can choose, a career in mining.
The current job market for recent college grads in 2025 so far is one of the most challenging in the last decade. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, few people are quitting their jobs, employers are reluctant to hire. And while artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities in employment, it's also cutting into many entry-level writing, coding, and even design jobs.
One industry that is hiring, however, is the mining industry. Modern mining is looking for the next generation of miners. And how we define the job of a miner may surprise you. From operating mine machinery and vehicles to geologists, plant engineers to environmental engineers. The mining industry offers a wide range of high paying stable jobs. Many of the jobs don't require a college degree, and mining companies often offer extensive hands-on training experience to provide a foundation for your career.
Consider that the average wage for US miners is more than $98,000 a year. That's 30% above the national average. And given the massive appetite for both metals and minerals and the increasing need for fuels to power growing data centers and the electrification of really everything, these jobs are not going away anytime soon.
So whether your interest lies in operating unmanned vehicles and drones, or you're intrigued by the thought of exploring thousands of feet underground with the latest in high tech innovation, a career in mining might just be for you.
