A few quick statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mine Safety & Health Administration, Energy Information Administration, and the National Mining Association.
- In 2007 there were 120,150 people employed by the coal industry. This was up from a low of 104,824 in 2003.
- The average wage for all U.S. coal miners is $66,601. The average salary for all U.S. workers is $42,405.
- The average wage for all West Virginia coal miners is $64,801, over $22,000 a year above the national average. and almost $33,000 a year over the average salary of all W.V. workers ($31,999).
- Spreading your income statistics across the state of West Virginia allows other industries to mask the buoying effect of the coal industry wages. If anything, coal mining is helping to keep the average wage for those states higher.
- Attacking the coal industry over literacy rates is a red herring and strawman. The state government is responsible for providing education to state residents. Perhaps you should be taking that statistic to another debate on this site.
Regarding the assertion that coal mines are causing an "exodus of a generation of young people who are forced to find jobs elsewhere," the coal industry is actively seeking new recruits that will replace the many mine employees that are nearing retirement age. We covered this situation in depth in the Spring 2007 edition of American Coal magazine (see Evidence: American Coal Magazine, pg. 26 "Renewing the Coal Mining Industry").
With the many strict environmental and safety regulations that need to be followed and the fact that much of the machinery in a mine requires a great deal of knowledge and training to operate, the industry is actively looking for and recruiting new employees who are very well educated and trained.
Lastly -- and to return to the initial charge that the coal industry does not pay its employees well -- the people that come to the coal industry with degrees in engineering, environmental science, geology, chemistry, etc. are well paid. Look at 2006 income data for a few job titles at U.S. coal mines,
- Chief Engineer - $98,300
- Chief Geologist - $81,800
- Environmental Coordinator - $78,900
- Mine Engineer - $71,000
- Mine Geologist - $68,000
- Environmental Technician - $49,400
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