Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (SOC 47-5023) earn a median $60,190 a year ($28.94 an hour) in the United States, with 19,450 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What earth drillers, except oil and gas do
Earth drillers run several kinds of drills, including rotary, churn and pneumatic rigs, to reach underground water and salt deposits, to pull core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to make holes for explosives used in mining or construction; horizontal and earth boring machine operators are included. Truck-mounted equipment is driven or guided into position, leveled and stabilized, and telescoping derricks are extended. The operator uses controls to stabilize the machine and position and align the drill, starts and stops it, and controls drilling speed and the insertion of casings into holes. Air pressure, rotary speed and downward pressure are regulated according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled. Drill bits and rods are selected and attached, with more rods added as holes deepen and bits changed as needed. Depths and alignments of boring positions are verified, earth cuttings are flushed out or dust blown from holes, and routine maintenance includes replacing parts, building up drill bits and lubricating machinery. Drilling for oil and gas is excluded and belongs to a separate code (47-5012).
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Auger Operator, Blast Driller, Blast Hole Driller, Boring Machine Operator, Churn Drill Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.37 | $23.99 | $28.94 | $34.83 | $40.29 | $30.21 | 19,450 |
| Annual | $44,460 | $49,900 | $60,190 | $72,450 | $83,800 | $62,830 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where earth drillers, except oil and gas earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $24.53 | $29.77 | $38.70 | $48.08 | $51.14 | $39.13 | 210 | 0.06 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $51,020 | $61,920 | $80,490 | $100,000 | $106,370 | $81,380 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $29.41 | $29.70 | $38.48 | $45.48 | $45.50 | $37.16 | 290 | 0.89 | 7.15 |
| Annual | $61,180 | $61,770 | $80,040 | $94,600 | $94,630 | $77,300 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $29.66 | $32.61 | $38.02 | $49.75 | $51.91 | $39.42 | 330 | 0.05 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $61,690 | $67,820 | $79,080 | $103,480 | $107,980 | $81,990 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $23.75 | $31.06 | $37.48 | $45.43 | $61.90 | $39.85 | 400 | 0.09 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $49,390 | $64,600 | $77,950 | $94,490 | $128,740 | $82,890 | ||||
| Montana | Hourly | $28.90 | $29.21 | $34.36 | $37.12 | $50.13 | $35.05 | 180 | 0.36 | 2.88 |
| Annual | $60,110 | $60,760 | $71,470 | $77,210 | $104,280 | $72,910 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.85 | $23.26 | $28.22 | $32.29 | $38.54 | $28.85 | 1,930 | 0.14 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $39,210 | $48,390 | $58,700 | $67,160 | $80,170 | $60,000 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $23.05 | $28.30 | $32.17 | $38.18 | $44.06 | $33.39 | 1,630 | 0.09 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $47,950 | $58,870 | $66,910 | $79,420 | $91,640 | $69,450 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $20.86 | $22.67 | $26.60 | $27.85 | $30.38 | $25.99 | 1,630 | 0.17 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $43,380 | $47,150 | $55,320 | $57,920 | $63,180 | $54,060 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $20.29 | $22.02 | $29.34 | $33.10 | $41.03 | $29.10 | 1,350 | 0.87 | 6.95 |
| Annual | $42,210 | $45,810 | $61,030 | $68,840 | $85,350 | $60,530 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $17.16 | $21.53 | $24.06 | $28.58 | $39.26 | $26.27 | 870 | 0.18 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $35,680 | $44,770 | $50,030 | $59,440 | $81,650 | $54,630 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $30.00 | $37.57 | $45.48 | $45.48 | $45.48 | $41.32 | 60 | 1.54 | 12.32 |
| Annual | $62,400 | $78,140 | $94,600 | $94,600 | $94,600 | $85,950 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $27.63 | $36.90 | $42.93 | $51.12 | $55.65 | $42.81 | 90 | 0.04 | 0.33 |
| Annual | $57,460 | $76,760 | $89,300 | $106,320 | $115,740 | $89,050 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $30.78 | $32.61 | $39.40 | $51.91 | $51.91 | $40.93 | 220 | 0.05 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $64,020 | $67,820 | $81,960 | $107,980 | $107,980 | $85,130 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $29.42 | $29.42 | $38.48 | $45.25 | $45.49 | $36.29 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $61,180 | $61,180 | $80,030 | $94,120 | $94,620 | $75,480 | ||||
| Billings, MT | Hourly | $30.62 | $35.55 | $37.70 | $38.74 | $63.64 | $39.55 | 40 | 0.45 | 3.56 |
| Annual | $63,680 | $73,940 | $78,410 | $80,570 | $132,370 | $82,250 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $24.00 | $27.50 | $28.25 | $32.05 | $36.62 | $30.19 | 650 | 0.27 | 2.17 |
| Annual | $49,920 | $57,200 | $58,750 | $66,670 | $76,160 | $62,790 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $27.82 | $28.12 | $35.64 | $41.94 | $48.77 | $36.82 | 530 | 0.06 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $57,860 | $58,490 | $74,120 | $87,240 | $101,430 | $76,580 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $19.43 | $23.42 | $27.87 | $30.43 | $38.54 | $28.42 | 440 | 0.14 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $40,410 | $48,710 | $57,970 | $63,290 | $80,170 | $59,100 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $18.58 | $24.10 | $29.17 | $34.83 | $39.84 | $29.59 | 420 | 0.10 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $38,650 | $50,140 | $60,670 | $72,450 | $82,860 | $61,540 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $19.17 | $23.85 | $24.82 | $27.97 | $37.18 | $27.19 | 390 | 0.13 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $39,880 | $49,600 | $51,630 | $58,180 | $77,330 | $56,550 | ||||
Top industries employing earth drillers, except oil and gas
Utility System Construction employ 44.0% of earth drillers, except oil and gas nationally (8,560 jobs) at a median $61,260 a year ($29.45 an hour), followed by Other Specialty Trade Contractors (16.2%) and Support Activities for Mining (12.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility System Construction NAICS 237100 | 8,560 | 44.0% | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 3,150 | 16.2% | $58,370 | $28.06 |
| Support Activities for Mining NAICS 213100 | 2,440 | 12.5% | $59,790 | $28.74 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 1,520 | 7.8% | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying NAICS 212300 | 780 | 4.0% | $59,980 | $28.84 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (19,450). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,250 for earth drillers, except oil and gas in May 2021 and $60,190 in May 2025, with employment of 15,800 and 19,450.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,250 | $23.20 | 15,800 |
| May 2022 | $51,740 | $24.88 | 19,010 |
| May 2023 | $56,660 | $27.24 | 18,010 |
| May 2024 | $59,600 | $28.65 | 17,410 |
| May 2025 | $60,190 | $28.94 | 19,450 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $38.70 | $80,490 | $51,020 | $106,370 | 210 | 0.06 | 0.47 |
| 2 | Alaska profile | $38.48 | $80,040 | $61,180 | $94,630 | 290 | 0.89 | 7.15 |
| 3 | Illinois profile | $38.02 | $79,080 | $61,690 | $107,980 | 330 | 0.05 | 0.44 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $37.48 | $77,950 | $49,390 | $128,740 | 400 | 0.09 | 0.74 |
| 5 | Montana profile | $34.36 | $71,470 | $60,110 | $104,280 | 180 | 0.36 | 2.88 |
| 6 | Wisconsin profile | $32.84 | $68,320 | $51,460 | $81,880 | 280 | 0.10 | 0.77 |
| 7 | California profile | $32.17 | $66,910 | $47,950 | $91,640 | 1,630 | 0.09 | 0.71 |
| 8 | New Hampshire profile | $31.93 | $66,410 | $49,070 | $89,260 | 80 | 0.11 | 0.88 |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $31.59 | $65,710 | $54,830 | $73,410 | 140 | 0.08 | 0.65 |
| 10 | Kansas profile | $31.54 | $65,600 | $44,800 | $76,950 | 80 | 0.06 | 0.46 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $31.21 | $64,920 | $45,970 | $81,710 | 510 | 0.26 | 2.08 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $31.16 | $64,820 | $46,190 | $92,180 | 280 | 0.10 | 0.79 |
| 13 | Wyoming profile | $30.98 | $64,450 | $47,420 | $78,260 | 90 | 0.33 | 2.61 |
| 14 | Massachusetts profile | $30.86 | $64,180 | $51,350 | $86,420 | 130 | 0.04 | 0.29 |
| 15 | Minnesota profile | $30.67 | $63,790 | $47,920 | $91,980 | 340 | 0.12 | 0.93 |
| 16 | Indiana profile | $30.17 | $62,750 | $47,070 | $94,160 | 440 | 0.14 | 1.11 |
| 17 | Michigan profile | $30.08 | $62,570 | $49,710 | $78,470 | 850 | 0.19 | 1.55 |
| 18 | North Dakota profile | $30.08 | $62,570 | $42,210 | $102,300 | 110 | 0.26 | 2.09 |
| 19 | South Carolina profile | $29.57 | $61,500 | $39,990 | $122,300 | 120 | 0.05 | 0.43 |
| 20 | Vermont profile | $29.53 | $61,420 | $57,330 | $79,440 | 70 | 0.23 | 1.81 |
| 21 | Maryland profile | $29.45 | $61,260 | $46,130 | $76,670 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.34 |
| 22 | Nevada profile | $29.34 | $61,030 | $42,210 | $85,350 | 1,350 | 0.87 | 6.95 |
| 23 | Ohio profile | $29.33 | $61,010 | $42,200 | $104,470 | 390 | 0.07 | 0.56 |
| 24 | New York profile | $29.26 | $60,860 | $50,140 | $96,910 | 670 | 0.07 | 0.56 |
| 25 | Mississippi profile | $29.17 | $60,680 | $39,670 | $81,990 | 250 | 0.22 | 1.72 |
| 26 | Utah profile | $29.08 | $60,490 | $46,360 | $79,470 | 310 | 0.18 | 1.44 |
| 27 | Nebraska profile | $28.94 | $60,200 | $48,230 | $73,510 | 210 | 0.20 | 1.60 |
| 28 | New Mexico profile | $28.91 | $60,140 | $37,040 | $91,070 | 100 | 0.12 | 0.96 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $28.30 | $58,870 | $49,040 | $76,220 | 850 | 0.26 | 2.09 |
| 30 | Texas profile | $28.22 | $58,700 | $39,210 | $80,170 | 1,930 | 0.14 | 1.10 |
| 31 | Tennessee profile | $28.21 | $58,670 | $43,620 | $76,630 | 450 | 0.14 | 1.10 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania profile | $27.60 | $57,400 | $46,180 | $75,680 | 730 | 0.12 | 0.97 |
| 33 | North Carolina profile | $27.55 | $57,300 | $40,770 | $89,370 | 290 | 0.06 | 0.47 |
| 34 | Delaware profile | $27.48 | $57,160 | $52,760 | $70,400 | ** | ** | ** |
| 35 | South Dakota profile | $27.48 | $57,160 | $48,310 | $70,100 | 80 | 0.17 | 1.34 |
| 36 | Kentucky profile | $27.00 | $56,160 | $45,200 | $73,830 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.34 |
| 37 | Louisiana profile | $26.77 | $55,690 | $46,040 | $74,960 | 190 | 0.10 | 0.77 |
| 38 | West Virginia profile | $26.70 | $55,540 | $43,380 | $62,400 | 240 | 0.34 | 2.68 |
| 39 | Virginia profile | $26.67 | $55,470 | $45,370 | $72,730 | 440 | 0.11 | 0.86 |
| 40 | Florida profile | $26.60 | $55,320 | $43,380 | $63,180 | 1,630 | 0.17 | 1.32 |
| 41 | Idaho profile | $26.36 | $54,830 | $45,300 | $78,460 | 450 | 0.53 | 4.24 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $26.05 | $54,180 | $44,140 | $77,030 | 250 | 0.15 | 1.17 |
| 43 | Iowa profile | $25.96 | $54,000 | $47,130 | $66,720 | 190 | 0.12 | 0.96 |
| 44 | Missouri profile | $24.77 | $51,530 | $37,440 | $68,230 | 370 | 0.13 | 1.00 |
| 45 | Georgia profile | $24.06 | $50,030 | $35,680 | $81,650 | 870 | 0.18 | 1.42 |
| 46 | Alabama profile | $22.33 | $46,440 | $43,740 | $67,970 | 170 | 0.08 | 0.63 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $22.19 | $46,160 | $37,290 | $62,330 | 110 | 0.09 | 0.69 |
| 48 | Maine profile | $21.91 | $45,560 | $31,960 | $69,050 | 70 | 0.11 | 0.84 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-5020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-5023 Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-5023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-5023.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.