47 Series · SOC 47-5081
Helpers--Extraction Workers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $47,730
- Median / year
- $68,020
- Top 10% earn
- -1.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 6,700
- US workers
Helpers--Extraction Workers earn a median of $47,730 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $47,730, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $36,960 (10th percentile) to $68,020 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 6,700 US workers. West Virginia pays the most ($77,180), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Helpers--Extraction Workers earn a median of $47,730, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 27% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #51 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 1.7% by 2033.
- $47,730
- Median annual wage
- Top 73%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #51 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: West Virginia at $77,180. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Helpers--Extraction Workers (SOC 47-5081) pays a national median of $47,730 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $36,960 at the 10th percentile to $68,020 at the 90th, with a mean of $50,620 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 6,700 Americans work in this occupation across 26 reporting states and 19 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -1.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 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 and moderate-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. West Virginia pays the highest state median at $77,180, which is +62% above the national figure. The top metro is Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area at $77,180 - 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
$47,730
per year
Median Hourly
$22.95/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$50,620
average
Employment
6,700
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Helpers--Extraction Workers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$47,730 Bottom 27% higher than 27% 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 Helpers--Extraction Workers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Helpers--Extraction Workers sits on the slower-growing side at -1.7% growth and $47,730 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-1.7%
Declining
Annual Openings
700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-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 Helpers--Extraction Workers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Provide assistance to extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers and derrick operators.
- ▸ Observe and monitor equipment operation during the extraction process to detect any problems.
- ▸ Drive moving equipment to transport materials and parts to excavation sites.
- ▸ Unload materials, devices, and machine parts, using hand tools.
- ▸ Set up and adjust equipment used to excavate geological materials.
- ▸ Organize materials to prepare for use.
- ▸ Repair and maintain automotive and drilling equipment, using hand tools.
- ▸ Collect and examine geological matter, using hand tools and testing devices.
- ▸ Signal workers to start geological material extraction or boring.
- ▸ Clean up work areas and remove debris after extraction activities are complete.
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
$36,960
25th Percentile
$41,430
Median
$47,730
75th Percentile
$57,920
90th Percentile
$68,020
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 26 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $77,180 | +62% above national |
| 2 | Kentucky | $68,020 | +43% above national |
| 3 | Utah | $55,490 | +16% above national |
| 4 | Wyoming | $55,240 | +16% above national |
| 5 | New York | $54,910 | +15% above national |
| 6 | New Mexico | $54,840 | +15% above national |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $54,700 | +15% above national |
| 8 | New Jersey | $53,820 | +13% above national |
| 9 | California | $51,720 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Maryland | $51,020 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Virginia | $50,350 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Indiana | $49,490 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Arizona | $49,070 | +3% above national |
| 14 | Alaska | $48,820 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $48,290 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Louisiana | $46,940 | 2% below national |
| 17 | Montana | $46,720 | 2% below national |
| 18 | Nevada | $46,610 | 2% below national |
| 19 | Oregon | $46,270 | 3% below national |
| 20 | South Dakota | $45,250 | 5% below national |
| 21 | North Carolina | $42,670 | 11% below national |
| 22 | Florida | $41,090 | 14% below national |
| 23 | Texas | $40,650 | 15% below national |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $38,510 | 19% below national |
| 25 | Colorado | $37,450 | 22% below national |
| 26 | Mississippi | $36,160 | 24% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 19 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $77,180 | +62% above national |
| 2 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $68,780 | +44% above national |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,470 | +27% above national |
| 4 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $52,120 | +9% above national |
| 5 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $51,750 | +8% above national |
| 6 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $51,060 | +7% above national |
| 7 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $48,820 | +2% above national |
| 8 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,690 | +2% above national |
| 9 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,340 | +1% above national |
| 10 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $47,730 | same as national |
| 11 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $46,890 | 2% below national |
| 12 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $44,300 | 7% below national |
| 13 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $43,940 | 8% below national |
| 14 | Midland, TX | $42,810 | 10% below national |
| 15 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $40,170 | 16% below national |
| 16 | Odessa, TX | $39,480 | 17% below national |
| 17 | Longview, TX | $37,290 | 22% below national |
| 18 | Laredo, TX | $36,580 | 23% below national |
| 19 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $35,140 | 26% 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 Helpers--Extraction Workers make? ▼
What state pays Helpers--Extraction Workers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Helpers--Extraction Workers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Helpers--Extraction Workers? ▼
Is Helpers--Extraction Workers a good career? ▼
How does Helpers--Extraction Workers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Helpers--Extraction Workers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Helpers--Extraction Workers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $57,920/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: West Virginia leads at $77,180/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.