ELKO, Nev. (AP) - A Nevada mining survey projects the industry is on track to create up to 1,500 jobs in 2012.

The Elko Daily Free Press reports the Nevada Mining Association survey shows most industry jobs pay an average of $83,000 annually.

Association President Tim Crowley says the informal survey included gold, silver, copper and mineral mining operations. He says the survey also included growth projections for vendors that work alongside the mining industry.

An association web posting says survey data was collected in late 2011. The data is limited to mining operations that are members of the association.

As of December there were 12,900 jobs in the mining sector.