Industry commands high salaries

Mining positions pay some of the highest wages in Idaho’s Shoshone County. This year, many workers will also collect bonuses based on silver prices and profit-sharing.

At the Galena Mine, skilled hourly employees earn an average of $17 per hour. Miners, on the other hand, are paid based on how much rock they move. If they meet targeted production levels, they’re earning about $300 per day, said Mark Hartmann, president of U.S. Silver Corp. Workers are also receiving a $3-per-hour bonus based on current silver prices. Through the mine’s profit-sharing plan, they could collect another $10,000 in bonuses this year, Hartmann said.

The Lucky Friday Mine also pays its workers bonuses based on silver prices and profit-sharing. This year, some employees could collect bonuses of up to $30,000, said Vicki Veltkamp, spokeswoman for Hecla Mining Co., which owns the Lucky Friday.