According to the methodology of the Bureau of National Statistics (BNS) of the Agency for Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, miners work in enterprises classified as “Mining and Quarrying. Statistical data show that in none of these subcategories (coal, metal ore, and other mineral extraction) does the average monthly nominal wage reach 1 million tenge.
The highest average wage – 839,300 tenge – was recorded for workers in metal ore mines. This subcategory also has the highest rate of nominal wage growth since 2020, having increased more than 2.7-fold as of the first quarter of this year. In coal mining, wages rose to 722,000 tenge in the first quarter of 2026. Both industries have seen steady positive growth, particularly noticeable since 2021. The lowest wage level was observed in the other minerals mining sector: only 462,700 tenge in the first quarter of 2026. This represents a 2.6-fold increase since 2020.
The BNS’ detailed salary report by key occupation allows us to narrow down the data based on work in underground or surface mines of various specializations. After all, not every miner is the same. Some miners earn over 1 million tenge. In the list of 25 different mining positions, the “millionaires” include miners (1 million tenge), underground drill foremen (1.2 million tenge), and mine managers (1.7 million tenge). It’s possible that the latter position is an administrative one.
In 2025, the average monthly nominal wage scale for mine workers was very broad. The salary of a longwall miner was 927,300 tenge, a mining machine operator – 923,100 tenge, and an underground mining assembler – 855,000 tenge. The lowest salaries were recorded for drilling and mining mechanics (165,000 tenge in total), open-pit miners (209,700 tenge), and tipplers (349,400 tenge). Seven of the 25 positions listed had nominal salaries below the national average (443,300 tenge). Judging by the job titles – conveyor operator, tippler, and hatchman – these people work underground, in very challenging conditions. Overall, the highest and lowest salaries differed by more than 10 times, reflecting significant income differentiation within the industry depending on the level of responsibility, skill, and complexity of working conditions. A miner is one of those professions that industrial automation cannot yet replace. While it’s true that you’ll no longer see a miner with a pickaxe in modern mines, and some functions have been taken over by heavy machinery, a complete and safe transformation is still a long way off. According to BNS data, the headcount in the mining sectors under consideration has remained relatively stable over the past few years: between 119,200 and 121,500 people. This figure peaked in the first quarter of this year. The actual headcount over these years fluctuated between 114,000 and 116,700 people.
The bulk of employment in the industry is generated by metal ore mining companies. The headcount in this sector from January to March of this year was 85,000 people, accounting for 70% of the total workforce. Coal mining employed significantly fewer people: 28,700. The smallest number of employees was found in enterprises engaged in the extraction of other minerals: only 7,800 people. This subcategory also saw the most significant reduction in the number of workers since 2020: a 23.1% decline.
How many miners work in difficult and hazardous conditions? More than 76,000 people. Calculations based on BNS data allow determining the proportion of such workers: last year, the figure was 65.9%. This is an average figure; it is best examined separately for each subcategory. For example, 81.3% of employees in the coal industry work in hazardous conditions, 63% in the metal ore mining sector, and 41.5% in other mineral extraction companies. The most common types of exposure in these industries are physical factors – dust, vibration, radiation, etc. In the coal industry, 20,600 people experience their negative impact, 29,600 in the metal ore mining sector, and 1,700 in other mineral extraction.
Psychophysiological stress plays a significant role in the development of hazardous working conditions: 18,300 people in metal ore mining are exposed to these conditions. This is primarily due to the heavy and intense workload of miners. In the other two mining segments, the scale of psychophysiological exposure is significantly lower: 1,300 people are employed in coal mining under these types of hazardous conditions, while 583 people are employed in other mineral extraction. Thus, the level and structure of occupational risks vary significantly between industries. Employment in the metal ore mining sector is characterized by the widest range and the largest number of workers exposed to various hazardous conditions, while in other mineral extraction, the figures remain relatively low.
The total number of workers in the three subcategories receiving social guarantees last year was 70,400 (out of a total of 120,300). The majority of these workers – 64,700 – received additional vacation time (which, incidentally, is required by law). According to BNS reports, more than 22,700 workers received increased salaries, and another 1,800 received special state benefits.
As for non-financial benefits, half of all those entitled to social guarantees – 36,700 – received therapeutic and preventive nutrition, and more than 8,500 had a reduced workday. (EnergyProm)