Earth drillers, except oil and gas salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,460 | $21.37 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Mean (average) | $62,830 | $30.21 |
| 90th percentile | $83,800 | $40.29 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Earth drillers, except oil and gas pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,440 | $43,740 | $67,970 | 170 | 0.63 |
| Alaska | $80,040 | $61,180 | $94,630 | 290 | 7.15 |
| Arizona | $58,870 | $49,040 | $76,220 | 850 | 2.09 |
| Arkansas | $46,160 | $37,290 | $62,330 | 110 | 0.69 |
| California | $66,910 | $47,950 | $91,640 | 1,630 | 0.71 |
| Colorado | $64,820 | $46,190 | $92,180 | 280 | 0.79 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 | $54,830 | $73,410 | 140 | 0.65 |
| Delaware | $57,160 | $52,760 | $70,400 | ||
| Florida | $55,320 | $43,380 | $63,180 | 1,630 | 1.32 |
| Georgia | $50,030 | $35,680 | $81,650 | 870 | 1.42 |
| Idaho | $54,830 | $45,300 | $78,460 | 450 | 4.24 |
| Illinois | $79,080 | $61,690 | $107,980 | 330 | 0.44 |
| Indiana | $62,750 | $47,070 | $94,160 | 440 | 1.11 |
| Iowa | $54,000 | $47,130 | $66,720 | 190 | 0.96 |
| Kansas | $65,600 | $44,800 | $76,950 | 80 | 0.46 |
| Kentucky | $56,160 | $45,200 | $73,830 | 80 | 0.34 |
| Louisiana | $55,690 | $46,040 | $74,960 | 190 | 0.77 |
| Maine | $45,560 | $31,960 | $69,050 | 70 | 0.84 |
| Maryland | $61,260 | $46,130 | $76,670 | 120 | 0.34 |
| Massachusetts | $64,180 | $51,350 | $86,420 | 130 | 0.29 |
| Michigan | $62,570 | $49,710 | $78,470 | 850 | 1.55 |
| Minnesota | $63,790 | $47,920 | $91,980 | 340 | 0.93 |
| Mississippi | $60,680 | $39,670 | $81,990 | 250 | 1.72 |
| Missouri | $51,530 | $37,440 | $68,230 | 370 | 1 |
| Montana | $71,470 | $60,110 | $104,280 | 180 | 2.88 |
| Nebraska | $60,200 | $48,230 | $73,510 | 210 | 1.6 |
| Nevada | $61,030 | $42,210 | $85,350 | 1,350 | 6.95 |
| New Hampshire | $66,410 | $49,070 | $89,260 | 80 | 0.88 |
| New Jersey | $77,950 | $49,390 | $128,740 | 400 | 0.74 |
| New Mexico | $60,140 | $37,040 | $91,070 | 100 | 0.96 |
| New York | $60,860 | $50,140 | $96,910 | 670 | 0.56 |
| North Carolina | $57,300 | $40,770 | $89,370 | 290 | 0.47 |
| North Dakota | $62,570 | $42,210 | $102,300 | 110 | 2.09 |
| Ohio | $61,010 | $42,200 | $104,470 | 390 | 0.56 |
| Oklahoma | $54,180 | $44,140 | $77,030 | 250 | 1.17 |
| Oregon | $64,920 | $45,970 | $81,710 | 510 | 2.08 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,400 | $46,180 | $75,680 | 730 | 0.97 |
| South Carolina | $61,500 | $39,990 | $122,300 | 120 | 0.43 |
| South Dakota | $57,160 | $48,310 | $70,100 | 80 | 1.34 |
| Tennessee | $58,670 | $43,620 | $76,630 | 450 | 1.1 |
| Texas | $58,700 | $39,210 | $80,170 | 1,930 | 1.1 |
| Utah | $60,490 | $46,360 | $79,470 | 310 | 1.44 |
| Vermont | $61,420 | $57,330 | $79,440 | 70 | 1.81 |
| Virginia | $55,470 | $45,370 | $72,730 | 440 | 0.86 |
| Washington | $80,490 | $51,020 | $106,370 | 210 | 0.47 |
| West Virginia | $55,540 | $43,380 | $62,400 | 240 | 2.68 |
| Wisconsin | $68,320 | $51,460 | $81,880 | 280 | 0.77 |
| Wyoming | $64,450 | $47,420 | $78,260 | 90 | 2.61 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Well Drilling/Driller CIP 46.0504
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation CIP 49.0202
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
- Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Global positioning system GPS software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Selection.
Common job titles: Blast Hole Driller, Diamond Driller, Drill Operator, Driller, Hard Rock Drill Operator, Highwall Drill Operator, Rock Drill Operator, Underground Drill Operator, Water Well Driller, Well Driller.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do earth drillers, except oil and gas make?
The national median annual wage for earth drillers, except oil and gas was $60,190 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $44,460 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $83,800. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do earth drillers, except oil and gas need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is earth drillers, except oil and gas a growing career?
BLS projects employment of earth drillers, except oil and gas to change +3.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay earth drillers, except oil and gas the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($80,490), Alaska ($80,040), Illinois ($79,080). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.