How Much Do Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Make?
$60,190 median per year · $62,830 average · 19,000 jobs
The median annual wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas was $60,190 in May 2025 — the midpoint of the pay distribution, not an average pulled up by a handful of top earners.
That is 18% above the $50,980 median for all US workers — roughly 1.2× the national figure. It ranks 426th of the 825 occupations with a published median.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary by percentile
A single median hides the shape of the pay distribution. The table below shows what workers earn at each fifth of the distribution, from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%, in both annual and hourly terms.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,460 | $21.37 |
| 25th percentile | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Median | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| 75th percentile | $72,450 | $34.83 |
| 90th percentile | $83,800 | $40.29 |
| Average (mean) | $62,830 | $30.21 |
What the pay range means
The distance between the 10th and 90th percentiles is the clearest signal of how much pay varies inside an occupation. Here the top decile earns 1.9× what the bottom decile earns, a spread of $39,340 a year. Occupations with a wide spread usually reward experience, certifications, location or specialty. Occupations with a narrow spread tend to pay close to a common rate.
On an hourly basis the median is $28.94. Annual figures assume full-time, year-round work; part-time schedules and overtime shift the hourly-to-annual relationship, which is why the BLS publishes both.
How this occupation compares
Within construction and extraction, the BLS group median is $59,540. This occupation sits 1% above that mark.
About 19,000 jobs are in the occupation, or 0.01% of the 155.5 million jobs covered by the survey. That scale matters: a very large occupation moves slowly, so its median is a stable benchmark rather than a snapshot of a few hires.
Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025. The survey covers wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments and excludes self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses, and some government roles.
Figures are national estimates. They describe what an occupation pays across the country as a whole, not what a particular employer, city or experience level offers. Percentiles are rounded, but no wage in the May 2025 release is top-coded: every published median and percentile is an exact figure.
Similar occupations
Roles with closely comparable median pay, mostly within construction and extraction.
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850 median
- Carpenters$60,580 median
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$61,390 median
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers$58,970 median
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$58,930 median
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$58,620 median
Common questions
How much do Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas make?
The median was $60,190 a year in May 2025. The average was $62,830, above the median — the two diverge when pay is unevenly distributed across the occupation.
What do the top 10% of Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas earn?
The 90th percentile is $83,800 a year, or $40.29 an hour. Only 10% of workers in the occupation earn more than this.
What do entry-level Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas earn?
The 10th percentile is $44,460 a year, or $21.37 an hour. One in ten workers in the occupation earns less than this. The BLS does not publish a separate starting-salary series.
How much do Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $28.94, with the middle half of workers earning between $23.99 and $34.83 an hour.
How many jobs are there for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas?
The BLS counts 19,450 jobs in the occupation, about 0.01% of the 155.5 million jobs covered by the survey.
Do these figures include self-employed workers?
No. The OEWS survey covers wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments. Self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses, and some government and household workers are outside the survey.
Is that above the national median?
Yes. The median of $60,190 is 18% above the $50,980 median for all US workers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 national estimates. Read the methodology.