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Cave Mining information

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$100.5K

$126.9K

$150.5K

How much do cave mining jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for cave mining in the United States is $126,935.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,500.00 and $140,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Cave Miner, and why are they important?

To excel as a Cave Miner, you need strong knowledge of geology, mining techniques, and safety regulations, usually supported by vocational training or a relevant technical qualification. Familiarity with mining machinery, drilling equipment, and specialized safety systems is typically required. Attention to detail, teamwork, and problem-solving skills help miners adapt to challenging underground conditions and collaborate effectively. These competencies are crucial to ensuring safe operations, maximizing resource extraction, and mitigating risks in hazardous environments.

What are some common challenges faced by cave miners and how are they addressed on the job?

Cave miners often encounter challenges such as working in confined spaces, managing ground stability, and ensuring proper ventilation. To address these, mining teams follow strict safety protocols, utilize advanced monitoring equipment, and conduct regular ground support inspections. Collaboration with engineers and safety officers is essential to adapt to changing geological conditions and maintain a secure work environment. Continuous training and clear communication are key to overcoming these challenges and ensuring productive operations.

What is cave mining?

Cave mining is an underground mining method that involves allowing the ore body to collapse or cave under its own weight, making it easier to extract large volumes of ore efficiently. There are different types of cave mining, such as block caving, sublevel caving, and panel caving, each suited to specific ore body shapes and conditions. This method is commonly used for large, low-grade ore bodies because it can be highly economical compared to other underground mining techniques. Cave mining requires careful planning to manage ground stability and safety, as well as to minimize environmental impact.

What is the difference between Cave Mining vs Hard Rock Mining?

AspectCave MiningHard Rock Mining
Work EnvironmentUnderground, large-scale excavations in ore bodiesUnderground or surface, extracting solid mineral deposits
Required CertificationsMining safety certifications, underground mining licensesMining safety certifications, underground or surface mining licenses
Industry UsageCommon in mineral deposits like gold, copper, and zincUsed for extracting various minerals including gold, silver, and base metals

Both Cave Mining and Hard Rock Mining involve underground extraction and require similar safety certifications. Cave Mining focuses on extracting ore through controlled collapse and subsidence, often in large, underground cavities. Hard Rock Mining involves extracting solid mineral deposits from rock formations, either underground or on the surface. While they share safety and certification requirements, their methods and environments differ significantly.

More about Cave Mining jobs
What cities are hiring for Cave Mining jobs? Cities with the most Cave Mining job openings:
What states have the most Cave Mining jobs? States with the most job openings for Cave Mining jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Cave Mining jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Cave Mining jobs are:
Cave Mining jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cave Mining job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $126,935 per year, or $61 per hour.
Principal Geotechnical Engineer - Underground

Principal Geotechnical Engineer - Underground

Rio Tinto

Salt Lake City, UT • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Rio Tinto rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 32 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 29 rated mining

Job description

  • Join a global organisation at the forefront of mining innovation
  • Excellent work environment where people are valued and respected
  • Join an encouraging leadership group, committed to your growth and development
  • Permanent role based in Salt Lake City with periodic international travel

We're Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values - care, courage and curiosity - guide how we work and how we treat each other.
About the role
We are looking for a Principal Geotechnical Engineer - Underground to provide technical expertise to the Rio Tinto Copper assets and studies including the Resolution Project, Kennecott Underground and Oyu Tolgoi Mine. This is a pivotal role in helping Rio Tinto's realise its vision to become the World's Best Operator. The role will see you representing the Central Technical function to support operational, study and project teams.
We are an open, connected global team that includes some of the industry's best and brightest minds. We offer competitive, performance-focused remuneration and a wide range of benefits to reward your contribution. With a global reach, the opportunities to develop and grow your career are broad and exciting.
Reporting to the Chief Underground Mining Engineer and working within a dynamic and innovative environment, this role will:
  • Provide technical support to our underground mines, particularly the Kennecott Underground Mine and Resolution project.
  • Support major hazard management activities by ensuring geotechnical hazards are managed appropriately at our operating sites and within our mining studies
  • Undertake performance monitoring and evaluation of underground projects and operations, recommend improvement measures and implementation as required.
  • Develop, document, and continually improve our operations, including lessons learned, best practice standards guidelines, processes and procedures.
  • Develop underground geotechnical expertise and capability across the group, including effective collaboration between assets in maximizing the collective capability in underground mining.
  • Improve technical systems and processes within the business, including data quality and utilisation
  • Provide strategic advice to senior leaders as well as internal and external stakeholder groups as appropriate.

What you will bring
  • A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
  • Recognised bachelors degree in mining engineering, geotechnical engineering or civil engineering
  • A minimum of 12 years post graduate experience
  • Proven background in geotechnical engineering at operating underground mines
  • Operational experience including geotechnical design, stability assessments, ground support, monitoring system design and data analysis
  • Experience in hazard identification, risk management and communication of major hazards to business leaders
  • Familiarity in both open stoping and cave mining would be highly favourable, as would experience in mining studies and long term and strategic planning
  • Sound understanding of numerical modelling
  • Excellent stakeholder engagement capability
  • Demonstrated commercial insight, strategic thinking and business acumen.
  • Knowledge of risk assessment and management practices
  • Sound leadership, coaching and mentoring capability

What we Offer
We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking, your hard work, and go home knowing you've helped the world progress, we provide:
  • A safety-focused and inclusive working environment
  • Advantageous salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees
  • Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
  • Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program
  • Generous Rio Tinto employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares.
  • Comprehensive leave policies which cover all moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
  • A favorable child-caregiver leave program (Up to 100% salary top-up)
  • Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing
  • Ongoing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family; to help in addressing educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
  • Our team and industry experts are here to support and work with you to explore your learning potential and career goals

Where you will be working
The Rio Tinto Copper group is a global organisation with operations and projects in the U.S. (Kennecott Utah Copper, "RTKC", and Resolution Copper Project), Mongolia (Oyu Tolgoi), Simandou (Guinea) and Western Australia (Winu Cu-Au project). The portfolio also includes interests in a non-managed joint venture in Chile, in addition to exploration & evaluation interests and other minor investments.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.
We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs - striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can't do it on our own, so we're focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.
Respect and Inclusion
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.

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