Mining Engineers

Nature of the Work
Employment
Job Outlook

(D.O.T. 010.061 except -018)

• Nature of the Work

  Mining engineers find, extract, and prepare coal, metals, and minerals for use by manufacturing industries and utilities. They design open pit and underground mines, supervise the construction of mine shafts and tunnels in underground operations, and devise methods for transporting minerals to processing plants. Mining engineers are responsible for the safe, economical, and environmentally sound operation of mines. Some mining engineers work with geologists and metallurgical engineers to locate and appraise new ore deposits. Others develop new mining equipment or direct mineral processing operations to separate minerals from the dirt, rock, and other materials with which they are mixed. Mining engineers frequently specialize in the mining of one mineral or metal, such as coal or gold. With increased emphasis on protecting the environment, many mining engineers work to solve problems related to land reclamation and water and air pollution.

• Employment

  Mining engineers held about 3,100 jobs in 1996. While two-thirds worked in the mining industry, other mining engineers worked in government agencies, manufacturing industries, or engineering consulting firms.
  
  Mining engineers are usually employed at the location of mineral deposits, often near small communities, and sometimes outside the United States. Those in research and development, management, consulting, or sales, however, are often located in metropolitan areas.

• Job Outlook

  The mining industry traditionally has few openings. In fact, employment in the mining industry and of mining engineers is expected to decline through the year 2006. Therefore, graduates in mining engineering will face competition despite their low number.
  
  
  Opportunities in the mining industry are closely related to the price of the metals and minerals they produce. If the price of these products is high, it makes it worthwhile for a mining company to invest the millions of dollars in material moving equipment and ore processing technology necessary to operate a mine. Although prices for mined products have been unstable, the increasing activity of auto manufacturing and expanded development and repair of the Nation's roadways will help provide demand for metals and minerals.
  
  
  The long-term business environment for mining is generally perceived to be favorable, but because a mine takes years of research, planning, and development to become fully operational, it may not contribute to expansion in employment opportunities for mining engineers. Also, because mining operations around the world recruit graduates of U.S. mining engineering programs, opportunities may be better worldwide than within the United States.
  
  
  (See introductory part of this section for information on training requirements, earnings, and sources of additional information.)
  
  

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