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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

47-5023 Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.


National estimates for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Industry profile for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Geographic profile for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

National estimates for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
19,010 4.8 % $ 27.52 $ 57,250 0.9 %

Percentile wage estimates for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 18.51 $ 21.99 $ 24.88 $ 31.22 $ 38.68
Annual Wage (2) $ 38,490 $ 45,730 $ 51,740 $ 64,940 $ 80,450


Industry profile for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Utility System Construction 7,630 1.37 $ 26.18 $ 54,460
Support Activities for Mining 3,080 1.24 $ 28.95 $ 60,220
Other Specialty Trade Contractors 2,950 0.39 $ 29.03 $ 60,380
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 1,160 0.07 $ 24.29 $ 50,530
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying 760 0.78 $ 26.21 $ 54,510

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Utility System Construction 7,630 1.37 $ 26.18 $ 54,460
Support Activities for Mining 3,080 1.24 $ 28.95 $ 60,220
Coal Mining 310 0.80 $ 30.84 $ 64,150
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying 760 0.78 $ 26.21 $ 54,510
Metal Ore Mining 280 0.66 $ 30.94 $ 64,350

Top paying industries for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 570 0.46 $ 34.84 $ 72,470
Building Equipment Contractors 470 0.02 $ 31.22 $ 64,950
Metal Ore Mining 280 0.66 $ 30.94 $ 64,350
Coal Mining 310 0.80 $ 30.84 $ 64,150
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 100 (7) $ 30.32 $ 63,070


Geographic profile for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of earth drillers, except oil and gas by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 1,970 0.15 1.18 $ 24.00 $ 49,930
California 1,800 0.10 0.79 $ 30.68 $ 63,810
Arizona 1,090 0.36 2.80 $ 25.87 $ 53,800
Louisiana 1,040 0.56 4.39 $ 34.17 $ 71,070
Florida 910 0.10 0.77 $ 23.76 $ 49,410


Map of location quotient of earth drillers, except oil and gas by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 220 0.72 5.64 $ 34.01 $ 70,740
Montana 290 0.60 4.63 $ 26.70 $ 55,530
Louisiana 1,040 0.56 4.39 $ 34.17 $ 71,070
Nevada 780 0.55 4.31 $ 27.77 $ 57,770
North Dakota 180 0.45 3.49 $ 26.11 $ 54,310


Map of annual mean wages of earth drillers, except oil and gas by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Jersey 360 0.09 0.68 $ 36.49 $ 75,910
Wyoming 30 0.12 0.93 $ 36.40 $ 75,710
Massachusetts 580 0.16 1.27 $ 35.91 $ 74,680
Louisiana 1,040 0.56 4.39 $ 34.17 $ 71,070
Alaska 220 0.72 5.64 $ 34.01 $ 70,740



Map of employment of earth drillers, except oil and gas by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 840 0.38 2.93 $ 26.12 $ 54,330
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 490 0.05 0.42 $ 36.66 $ 76,250
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 460 0.15 1.17 $ 22.93 $ 47,690
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 450 0.17 1.30 $ 36.16 $ 75,210
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 410 0.07 0.52 $ 29.82 $ 62,030
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 360 0.09 0.73 $ 23.30 $ 48,450
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 230 0.08 0.64 $ 27.58 $ 57,370
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 230 0.12 0.94 $ 26.25 $ 54,600
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 220 0.13 1.02 $ 30.89 $ 64,260
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 210 0.10 0.78 $ 36.73 $ 76,400


Map of location quotient of earth drillers, except oil and gas by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 50 1.42 11.06 $ 25.74 $ 53,530
Duluth, MN-WI 60 0.50 3.92 $ 30.96 $ 64,400
Bismarck, ND 30 0.47 3.69 $ 26.84 $ 55,820
Greeley, CO 50 0.46 3.56 $ 21.02 $ 43,720
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA 50 0.41 3.22 $ 28.37 $ 59,020
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 840 0.38 2.93 $ 26.12 $ 54,330
Fargo, ND-MN 50 0.37 2.89 $ 26.47 $ 55,060
Manchester, NH 30 0.32 2.53 $ 27.40 $ 56,980
Amarillo, TX 40 0.31 2.41 $ 22.49 $ 46,770
Anchorage, AK 50 0.29 2.28 $ 27.38 $ 56,950


Map of annual mean wages of earth drillers, except oil and gas by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 40 0.08 0.64 $ 36.92 $ 76,800
Salem, OR 40 0.24 1.83 $ 36.74 $ 76,420
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 210 0.10 0.78 $ 36.73 $ 76,400
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 490 0.05 0.42 $ 36.66 $ 76,250
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (8) (8) (8) $ 36.22 $ 75,340
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 450 0.17 1.30 $ 36.16 $ 75,210
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 180 0.08 0.60 $ 35.57 $ 73,980
Santa Rosa, CA 50 0.24 1.84 $ 34.03 $ 70,770
Lafayette, LA (8) (8) (8) $ 32.13 $ 66,820
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 110 0.11 0.86 $ 31.34 $ 65,180

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 610 6.15 47.80 $ 26.88 $ 55,900
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 150 1.43 11.15 $ 36.56 $ 76,040
Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area 130 1.10 8.58 (8) (8)
Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area 120 0.77 5.98 $ 23.29 $ 48,450
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 100 1.32 10.30 $ 28.08 $ 58,400

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nevada nonmetropolitan area 610 6.15 47.80 $ 26.88 $ 55,900
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 150 1.43 11.15 $ 36.56 $ 76,040
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 100 1.32 10.30 $ 28.08 $ 58,400
Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area 130 1.10 8.58 (8) (8)
Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area 90 1.10 8.54 $ 27.20 $ 56,570

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 150 1.43 11.15 $ 36.56 $ 76,040
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 40 0.49 3.78 $ 33.69 $ 70,080
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 50 0.46 3.56 $ 32.58 $ 67,760
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 40 0.56 4.38 $ 29.44 $ 61,240
Northwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 40 0.30 2.32 $ 28.97 $ 60,260


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023