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Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration. Excludes "Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas" (47-5021).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,370 | 4.9 % | $27.01 | $56,180 | 1.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $15.34 | $19.90 | $25.95 | $32.23 | $40.22 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $31,900 | $41,400 | $53,980 | $67,040 | $83,670 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Mining | 11,960 | 4.38 | $25.71 | $53,470 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,810 | 1.33 | $30.82 | $64,110 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 540 | 0.48 | $38.28 | $79,620 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 150 | 0.01 | $23.92 | $49,760 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 50 | 0.00 | $39.79 | $82,760 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Mining | 11,960 | 4.38 | $25.71 | $53,470 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,810 | 1.33 | $30.82 | $64,110 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 540 | 0.48 | $38.28 | $79,620 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 150 | 0.01 | $23.92 | $49,760 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 50 | 0.00 | $39.79 | $82,760 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 50 | (7) | $39.79 | $82,760 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 540 | 0.48 | $38.28 | $79,620 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 30 | (7) | $37.01 | $76,980 |
| Utility System Construction | (8) | (8) | $31.80 | $66,130 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,810 | 1.33 | $30.82 | $64,110 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,750 | 0.48 | 4.48 | $26.29 | $54,680 |
| Oklahoma | 1,800 | 1.14 | 10.60 | $26.62 | $55,380 |
| California | 1,090 | 0.07 | 0.60 | $31.38 | $65,270 |
| Pennsylvania | 990 | 0.17 | 1.59 | $26.85 | $55,850 |
| Colorado | 990 | 0.39 | 3.59 | $27.22 | $56,610 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 900 | 2.16 | 20.03 | $30.92 | $64,310 |
| Oklahoma | 1,800 | 1.14 | 10.60 | $26.62 | $55,380 |
| Wyoming | 200 | 0.75 | 6.99 | $28.96 | $60,240 |
| Alaska | 200 | 0.64 | 5.92 | $32.17 | $66,920 |
| New Mexico | 440 | 0.55 | 5.13 | $24.18 | $50,290 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 30 | 0.07 | 0.63 | $33.79 | $70,270 |
| Alaska | 200 | 0.64 | 5.92 | $32.17 | $66,920 |
| Indiana | (8) | (8) | (8) | $31.50 | $65,530 |
| California | 1,090 | 0.07 | 0.60 | $31.38 | $65,270 |
| North Dakota | 900 | 2.16 | 20.03 | $30.92 | $64,310 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 2,590 | 0.88 | 8.19 | $26.67 | $55,470 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 710 | 1.17 | 10.87 | $30.98 | $64,430 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 530 | 1.76 | 16.28 | $29.77 | $61,930 |
| Midland, TX | 360 | 4.08 | 37.83 | (8) | (8) |
| Lafayette, LA | 340 | 1.74 | 16.14 | $25.70 | $53,460 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 310 | 0.27 | 2.53 | (8) | (8) |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division | 310 | 0.31 | 2.88 | $25.69 | $53,420 |
| Tulsa, OK | 290 | 0.69 | 6.36 | $24.80 | $51,580 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 160 | 0.86 | 7.97 | $26.60 | $55,330 |
| Williamsport, PA | 110 | 2.26 | 20.95 | $26.97 | $56,100 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | 360 | 4.08 | 37.83 | (8) | (8) |
| Williamsport, PA | 110 | 2.26 | 20.95 | $26.97 | $56,100 |
| Casper, WY | 80 | 2.14 | 19.86 | $26.90 | $55,950 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 530 | 1.76 | 16.28 | $29.77 | $61,930 |
| Lafayette, LA | 340 | 1.74 | 16.14 | $25.70 | $53,460 |
| Odessa, TX | 110 | 1.66 | 15.43 | $33.59 | $69,860 |
| Farmington, NM | 60 | 1.28 | 11.87 | $29.95 | $62,300 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 710 | 1.17 | 10.87 | $30.98 | $64,430 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 2,590 | 0.88 | 8.19 | $26.67 | $55,470 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 160 | 0.86 | 7.97 | $26.60 | $55,330 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $34.58 | $71,920 |
| Anchorage, AK | 50 | 0.27 | 2.53 | $33.93 | $70,570 |
| Odessa, TX | 110 | 1.66 | 15.43 | $33.59 | $69,860 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 710 | 1.17 | 10.87 | $30.98 | $64,430 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | (8) | (8) | (8) | $30.64 | $63,740 |
| Farmington, NM | 60 | 1.28 | 11.87 | $29.95 | $62,300 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 530 | 1.76 | 16.28 | $29.77 | $61,930 |
| Williamsport, PA | 110 | 2.26 | 20.95 | $26.97 | $56,100 |
| Casper, WY | 80 | 2.14 | 19.86 | $26.90 | $55,950 |
| Grand Junction, CO | (8) | (8) | (8) | $26.75 | $55,630 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 720 | 11.88 | 110.13 | $31.27 | $65,050 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 580 | 3.02 | 28.00 | $28.88 | $60,070 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 380 | 2.95 | 27.35 | $23.15 | $48,160 |
| Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.39 | 12.93 | $26.44 | $54,990 |
| Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 3.85 | 35.66 | $25.95 | $53,970 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 720 | 11.88 | 110.13 | $31.27 | $65,050 |
| Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 3.85 | 35.66 | $25.95 | $53,970 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 580 | 3.02 | 28.00 | $28.88 | $60,070 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 380 | 2.95 | 27.35 | $23.15 | $48,160 |
| West Central North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 2.74 | 25.38 | $29.63 | $61,620 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 2.00 | 18.56 | $31.89 | $66,330 |
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 720 | 11.88 | 110.13 | $31.27 | $65,050 |
| West Central North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 2.74 | 25.38 | $29.63 | $61,620 |
| Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 2.36 | 21.86 | $29.39 | $61,130 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 580 | 3.02 | 28.00 | $28.88 | $60,070 |
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 OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018