We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Jobs

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Working as a Coal Miner?

By Christina Edwards
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 24,901
Share

Becoming a coal miner does not usually require any expensive and time-consuming schooling, but it is very physically demanding. Coal companies also typically pay their miners very well and provide them with excellent benefits. Mining is usually considered very dangerous work, however, and miners are at risk of physical injury as well as chronic health conditions. Black lung disease, for instance, is often associated with coal mining.

A person interested in becoming a coal miner usually does not have to go to college or even a technical school. The low education requirements of this job often attract many people who can not afford to pursue a traditional post-secondary education. Many of these workers learn how to work in the mines from on-the-job training.

Physical work is often a major requirement of being a coal miner, though. A coal miner should be very physically fit and healthy. He should be able to work very long shifts in cramped quarters. These workers are also usually expected to be able to lift heavy objects. At the end of the work day, many coal miners are usually very tired and sore.

Coal miner pay is also usually quite high compared to some other jobs. In the United States, for example, a laborer in a coal mine will usually make more than $20 US Dollars (USD) an hour. The benefits a coal miner receives are also usually quite good. Many coal companies, for instance, will also provide their employees with medical insurance and retirement plans. Some companies also offer housing for their coal miners.

Although safety is often a priority at many coal mines, one of the biggest disadvantages of being a coal miner is that it is still a dangerous job. Injuries are not uncommon when working in a coal mine, particularly an underground coal mine. Falling objects, fires, and explosions are all real dangers in a coal mine. Although they are not as common today as they were in previous years, collapsed coal mines are also still a risk to many coal miners.

Coal miners are also at risk of developing chronic respiratory illnesses, which are caused by breathing in thick coal dust. Black lung disease is a common respiratory illness contracted by coal miners. In fact, it is also often referred to as coal worker's pneumoconiosis. A coal miner who breathes in coal dust for many years is at risk of developing this disease.

Symptoms of black lung disease include shortness of breath and coughing. There is no treatment for this disease, but coal miners who suffer from it are typically advised to avoid respiratory irritants, especially coal dust. Eventually, black lung disease could lead to more serious complications, including chronic bronchitis and respiratory failure.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By Wisedly33 — On Sep 06, 2014

I guess one pro of the business is that coal miners don't need a higher education, which in an impoverished family, is a good thing. And for that same family, it's a paycheck.

For so long, the mining companies fought safety regulations and treated their workers as lower than dirt. It was shameful.

But I guess if you're not well education, desperately need a job and live in mining country, then working for the coal mines is still a good way to earn some money. I'm not sure any amount of money is worth it, but it might keep a family from starving to death.

By Scrbblchick — On Sep 05, 2014

Honestly, if there are any pros to working in a coal mine, I can't think of too many. Conditions are better than they used to be, and at least the miners aren't paid in that worthless company scrip anymore. But it's still an extremely dangerous job, no matter where in the world you do it.

My great-grandfather was a coal miner and he managed to survive long enough to retire. But he was plagued with breathing problems and the company pension was a pittance. Fortunately, those were the days when you could live on a lot less. He lived in the country and was mostly self-sufficient.

Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-working-as-a-coal-miner.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.