December 6th marks an important observance for the mining community: National Miners Day. As our country prepares for the busy time of travel and family gatherings, we should first celebrate a group of hard-working Americans who make it all possible.
Miners make our lives possible, from the phone or device you’re reading this on to modern healthcare devices to advanced energy technologies and electric car batteries. Miners deliver materials for virtually every supply chain by extracting, processing and distributing the minerals that keep modern society functioning. Between the potash in fertilizer, the zinc in roofs and the platinum in communication devices, Americans couldn’t eat, sleep or work without the minerals U.S. miners supply.
As governments, companies and citizens adopt more advanced forms of energy and increasingly innovative technologies, more minerals will be needed. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook found that the world needs to double or quadruple the production of certain minerals by 2040 to achieve a low-carbon future.
This massive uptick in mineral demand means career growth opportunities across the mining sector. The industry relies on a diverse, skilled workforce of dedicated miners. In 2022, the industry employed more than 834,721 workers. Many are highly technical workers such as engineers, geologists, surveyors, data engineers and analysts.
Mining is also a rewarding career choice, with ample opportunities to work around the globe and earn a highly competitive salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the average salary of a mining engineer was $97,090 per year.
This National Miners Day remember to be thankful for the raw minerals that make your day possible. To learn more about a career in mining, hear from geologists Brianna Crenshaw and Sara Stotter.
This article was published by: Kate Kamber
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