47 Series · SOC 47-5023
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $60,190
- Median / year
- $83,800
- Top 10% earn
- +2.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 19,450
- US workers
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas earn a median of $60,190 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $60,190, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $44,460 (10th percentile) to $83,800 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 19,450 US workers. Washington pays the most ($80,490), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas earn a median of $60,190, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 48% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #21 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.9% by 2033.
- $60,190
- Median annual wage
- Top 52%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #21 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $80,490. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (SOC 47-5023) pays a national median of $60,190 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $44,460 at the 10th percentile to $83,800 at the 90th, with a mean of $62,830 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 19,450 Americans work in this occupation across 48 reporting states and 112 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required and long-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 12.4 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $80,490, which is +34% above the national figure. The top metro is Fairbanks-College, AK at $94,600 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$60,190
per year
Median Hourly
$28.94/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$62,830
average
Employment
19,450
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$60,190 Bottom 48% higher than 48% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas sits on the slower-growing side at +2.9% growth and $60,190 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2.9%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
Long-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
12.4/100K
Injury Rate
3.5/100
Danger Index
20.2/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Fabricate well casings.
- ▸ Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- ▸ Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- ▸ Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
- ▸ Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- ▸ Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- ▸ Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- ▸ Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.
- ▸ Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- ▸ Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$44,460
25th Percentile
$49,900
Median
$60,190
75th Percentile
$72,450
90th Percentile
$83,800
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 48 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $80,490 | +34% above national |
| 2 | Alaska | $80,040 | +33% above national |
| 3 | Illinois | $79,080 | +31% above national |
| 4 | New Jersey | $77,950 | +30% above national |
| 5 | Montana | $71,470 | +19% above national |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $68,320 | +14% above national |
| 7 | California | $66,910 | +11% above national |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $66,410 | +10% above national |
| 9 | Connecticut | $65,710 | +9% above national |
| 10 | Kansas | $65,600 | +9% above national |
| 11 | Oregon | $64,920 | +8% above national |
| 12 | Colorado | $64,820 | +8% above national |
| 13 | Wyoming | $64,450 | +7% above national |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $64,180 | +7% above national |
| 15 | Minnesota | $63,790 | +6% above national |
| 16 | Indiana | $62,750 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Michigan | $62,570 | +4% above national |
| 18 | North Dakota | $62,570 | +4% above national |
| 19 | South Carolina | $61,500 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Vermont | $61,420 | +2% above national |
| 21 | Maryland | $61,260 | +2% above national |
| 22 | Nevada | $61,030 | +1% above national |
| 23 | Ohio | $61,010 | +1% above national |
| 24 | New York | $60,860 | +1% above national |
| 25 | Mississippi | $60,680 | +1% above national |
| 26 | Utah | $60,490 | same as national |
| 27 | Nebraska | $60,200 | same as national |
| 28 | New Mexico | $60,140 | same as national |
| 29 | Arizona | $58,870 | 2% below national |
| 30 | Texas | $58,700 | 2% below national |
| 31 | Tennessee | $58,670 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $57,400 | 5% below national |
| 33 | North Carolina | $57,300 | 5% below national |
| 34 | Delaware | $57,160 | 5% below national |
| 35 | South Dakota | $57,160 | 5% below national |
| 36 | Kentucky | $56,160 | 7% below national |
| 37 | Louisiana | $55,690 | 7% below national |
| 38 | West Virginia | $55,540 | 8% below national |
| 39 | Virginia | $55,470 | 8% below national |
| 40 | Florida | $55,320 | 8% below national |
| 41 | Idaho | $54,830 | 9% below national |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $54,180 | 10% below national |
| 43 | Iowa | $54,000 | 10% below national |
| 44 | Missouri | $51,530 | 14% below national |
| 45 | Georgia | $50,030 | 17% below national |
| 46 | Alabama | $46,440 | 23% below national |
| 47 | Arkansas | $46,160 | 23% below national |
| 48 | Maine | $45,560 | 24% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 112 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $94,600 | +57% above national |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $89,300 | +48% above national |
| 3 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $81,960 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $80,030 | +33% above national |
| 5 | Billings, MT | $78,410 | +30% above national |
| 6 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $77,520 | +29% above national |
| 7 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $77,050 | +28% above national |
| 8 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $76,850 | +28% above national |
| 9 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $74,300 | +23% above national |
| 10 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $74,120 | +23% above national |
| 11 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $73,560 | +22% above national |
| 12 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $73,090 | +21% above national |
| 13 | Saginaw, MI | $72,800 | +21% above national |
| 14 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $71,790 | +19% above national |
| 15 | Flint, MI | $71,650 | +19% above national |
| 16 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $71,400 | +19% above national |
| 17 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $71,280 | +18% above national |
| 18 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $69,970 | +16% above national |
| 19 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $67,530 | +12% above national |
| 20 | Colorado Springs, CO | $66,360 | +10% above national |
| 21 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $64,360 | +7% above national |
| 22 | Cleveland, OH | $64,260 | +7% above national |
| 23 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $64,200 | +7% above national |
| 24 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $63,930 | +6% above national |
| 25 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $63,760 | +6% above national |
| 26 | Midland, TX | $63,730 | +6% above national |
| 27 | Bend, OR | $63,490 | +5% above national |
| 28 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $63,460 | +5% above national |
| 29 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $63,440 | +5% above national |
| 30 | Omaha, NE-IA | $63,330 | +5% above national |
| 31 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $63,300 | +5% above national |
| 32 | Albuquerque, NM | $63,180 | +5% above national |
| 33 | Fresno, CA | $63,000 | +5% above national |
| 34 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $62,790 | +4% above national |
| 35 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $62,710 | +4% above national |
| 36 | Jackson, MS | $62,620 | +4% above national |
| 37 | Salem, OR | $62,510 | +4% above national |
| 38 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $62,400 | +4% above national |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $61,980 | +3% above national |
| 40 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $61,710 | +3% above national |
| 41 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $61,580 | +2% above national |
| 42 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $61,550 | +2% above national |
| 43 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $61,500 | +2% above national |
| 44 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $61,490 | +2% above national |
| 45 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,390 | +2% above national |
| 46 | Reno, NV | $61,200 | +2% above national |
| 47 | Greeley, CO | $61,090 | +1% above national |
| 48 | Akron, OH | $60,790 | +1% above national |
| 49 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,670 | +1% above national |
| 50 | Jackson, MI | $60,270 | same as national |
| 51 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $60,160 | same as national |
| 52 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $60,110 | same as national |
| 53 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $60,090 | same as national |
| 54 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $59,950 | same as national |
| 55 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $59,770 | 1% below national |
| 56 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $58,950 | 2% below national |
| 57 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $58,930 | 2% below national |
| 58 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $58,750 | 2% below national |
| 59 | Visalia, CA | $58,670 | 3% below national |
| 60 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $58,390 | 3% below national |
| 61 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $58,290 | 3% below national |
| 62 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $58,240 | 3% below national |
| 63 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $57,970 | 4% below national |
| 64 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $57,920 | 4% below national |
| 65 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $57,920 | 4% below national |
| 66 | Lancaster, PA | $57,870 | 4% below national |
| 67 | St. Cloud, MN | $57,870 | 4% below national |
| 68 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $57,840 | 4% below national |
| 69 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $57,780 | 4% below national |
| 70 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $57,570 | 4% below national |
| 71 | Oklahoma City, OK | $57,400 | 5% below national |
| 72 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $57,350 | 5% below national |
| 73 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $57,170 | 5% below national |
| 74 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,040 | 5% below national |
| 75 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $56,860 | 6% below national |
| 76 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $56,830 | 6% below national |
| 77 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $56,780 | 6% below national |
| 78 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $56,290 | 6% below national |
| 79 | Jacksonville, FL | $56,150 | 7% below national |
| 80 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $56,120 | 7% below national |
| 81 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $55,920 | 7% below national |
| 82 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $55,700 | 7% below national |
| 83 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $55,610 | 8% below national |
| 84 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $55,470 | 8% below national |
| 85 | Tulsa, OK | $55,390 | 8% below national |
| 86 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $54,220 | 10% below national |
| 87 | Boise City, ID | $53,870 | 11% below national |
| 88 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $53,840 | 11% below national |
| 89 | Syracuse, NY | $53,720 | 11% below national |
| 90 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 13% below national |
| 91 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $52,000 | 14% below national |
| 92 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $51,630 | 14% below national |
| 93 | Springfield, MO | $51,540 | 14% below national |
| 94 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $51,360 | 15% below national |
| 95 | Baton Rouge, LA | $51,200 | 15% below national |
| 96 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $51,200 | 15% below national |
| 97 | Richmond, VA | $51,120 | 15% below national |
| 98 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $50,680 | 16% below national |
| 99 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $50,670 | 16% below national |
| 100 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,400 | 16% below national |
| 101 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $50,340 | 16% below national |
| 102 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $49,920 | 17% below national |
| 103 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $49,800 | 17% below national |
| 104 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $49,120 | 18% below national |
| 105 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $49,070 | 18% below national |
| 106 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $48,720 | 19% below national |
| 107 | Fargo, ND-MN | $48,510 | 19% below national |
| 108 | Knoxville, TN | $48,410 | 20% below national |
| 109 | Ogden, UT | $48,210 | 20% below national |
| 110 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $47,850 | 21% below national |
| 111 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $47,560 | 21% below national |
| 112 | Birmingham, AL | $46,440 | 23% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 47 (construction and extraction) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas make? ▼
What state pays Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas? ▼
How dangerous is being a Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas? ▼
Is Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas a good career? ▼
How does Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $72,450/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $80,490/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.