There were approximately 212,000 wage and salary jobs in the mining industry in 2002; around 74,000 in coal mining; 29,000 in metal mining; and 107,000 in nonmetallic mineral mining. According to the Energy Information Administration, there were around 1,400 coal mining operations in 26 States in 2002. Over half of all coal miners are employed in three States—Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Other States employing large numbers of coal miners are Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, and Wyoming. Metal mining is more prevalent in the West and Southwest, particularly in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Nonmetallic mineral mining is the most widespread, as quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, such as stone, clay, sand, and gravel, is done in nearly every State. In many rural areas, mining operations are the main employer. About 73 percent of mining establishments employ fewer than 20 workers.
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