An official website of the United States government
Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying equipment or cleaning work area. Apprentice workers are classified with the appropriate skilled construction trade occupation (47-2011 through 47-2231).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,280 | 4.6 % | $17.73 | $36,870 | 0.9 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $11.94 | $14.13 | $17.17 | $21.09 | $24.55 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $24,830 | $29,390 | $35,710 | $43,870 | $51,070 |
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 | 7,740 | 2.84 | $17.65 | $36,720 |
| Utility System Construction | 2,550 | 0.50 | $15.76 | $32,790 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,250 | 0.93 | $18.34 | $38,140 |
| Coal Mining | 1,050 | 2.12 | $22.51 | $46,820 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | 820 | 0.86 | $16.85 | $35,060 |
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 | 7,740 | 2.84 | $17.65 | $36,720 |
| Coal Mining | 1,050 | 2.12 | $22.51 | $46,820 |
| Metal Ore Mining | 370 | 0.98 | $20.65 | $42,950 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,250 | 0.93 | $18.34 | $38,140 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | 820 | 0.86 | $16.85 | $35,060 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal Mining | 1,050 | 2.12 | $22.51 | $46,820 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 160 | 0.12 | $22.27 | $46,320 |
| Metal Ore Mining | 370 | 0.98 | $20.65 | $42,950 |
| Employment Services | 340 | 0.01 | $18.92 | $39,350 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,250 | 0.93 | $18.34 | $38,140 |
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 | 6,190 | 0.52 | 4.86 | $16.88 | $35,110 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,080 | 0.19 | 1.73 | $19.76 | $41,090 |
| California | 890 | 0.05 | 0.50 | $17.98 | $37,390 |
| Kentucky | 720 | 0.38 | 3.58 | $20.14 | $41,890 |
| Oklahoma | 520 | 0.33 | 3.08 | $16.47 | $34,260 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 220 | 0.81 | 7.54 | $19.36 | $40,280 |
| Alaska | 190 | 0.60 | 5.57 | $21.11 | $43,910 |
| New Mexico | 430 | 0.53 | 4.95 | $20.11 | $41,820 |
| West Virginia | 350 | 0.52 | 4.80 | $21.92 | $45,590 |
| Texas | 6,190 | 0.52 | 4.86 | $16.88 | $35,110 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 150 | 0.22 | 2.05 | $24.15 | $50,240 |
| West Virginia | 350 | 0.52 | 4.80 | $21.92 | $45,590 |
| North Dakota | (8) | (8) | (8) | $21.50 | $44,730 |
| Alaska | 190 | 0.60 | 5.57 | $21.11 | $43,910 |
| New York | 40 | 0.00 | 0.04 | $20.62 | $42,890 |
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 | 1,840 | 0.63 | 5.86 | $17.60 | $36,610 |
| Midland, TX | 410 | 4.67 | 43.54 | $17.55 | $36,500 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 380 | 0.33 | 3.10 | $18.05 | $37,550 |
| Odessa, TX | 330 | 4.85 | 45.23 | $18.78 | $39,050 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division | 270 | 0.28 | 2.58 | $17.41 | $36,210 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 270 | 0.89 | 8.30 | $19.59 | $40,740 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 220 | 1.14 | 10.62 | $19.52 | $40,610 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 180 | 0.07 | 0.66 | (8) | (8) |
| Lafayette, LA | 160 | 0.79 | 7.38 | $18.22 | $37,890 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 110 | 0.06 | 0.54 | $15.65 | $32,540 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa, TX | 330 | 4.85 | 45.23 | $18.78 | $39,050 |
| Midland, TX | 410 | 4.67 | 43.54 | $17.55 | $36,500 |
| Victoria, TX | 50 | 1.22 | 11.34 | $15.23 | $31,680 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 220 | 1.14 | 10.62 | $19.52 | $40,610 |
| Longview, TX | 90 | 0.99 | 9.21 | $16.31 | $33,920 |
| Abilene, TX | 60 | 0.90 | 8.40 | $17.94 | $37,310 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 270 | 0.89 | 8.30 | $19.59 | $40,740 |
| Lafayette, LA | 160 | 0.79 | 7.38 | $18.22 | $37,890 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 1,840 | 0.63 | 5.86 | $17.60 | $36,610 |
| Laredo, TX | 60 | 0.59 | 5.46 | $16.15 | $33,580 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $20.99 | $43,660 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 270 | 0.89 | 8.30 | $19.59 | $40,740 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 220 | 1.14 | 10.62 | $19.52 | $40,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $19.21 | $39,950 |
| Tulsa, OK | 50 | 0.13 | 1.18 | $18.97 | $39,460 |
| Odessa, TX | 330 | 4.85 | 45.23 | $18.78 | $39,050 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 40 | 0.37 | 3.42 | $18.56 | $38,600 |
| Lafayette, LA | 160 | 0.79 | 7.38 | $18.22 | $37,890 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 380 | 0.33 | 3.10 | $18.05 | $37,550 |
| Abilene, TX | 60 | 0.90 | 8.40 | $17.94 | $37,310 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 740 | 3.86 | 35.99 | $14.86 | $30,910 |
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 460 | 3.22 | 30.04 | $14.14 | $29,420 |
| North Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 8.83 | 82.38 | $19.91 | $41,410 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 320 | 1.67 | 15.53 | $16.29 | $33,890 |
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 280 | 1.87 | 17.43 | $21.99 | $45,740 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 8.83 | 82.38 | $19.91 | $41,410 |
| Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 4.01 | 37.40 | $17.00 | $35,350 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 740 | 3.86 | 35.99 | $14.86 | $30,910 |
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 460 | 3.22 | 30.04 | $14.14 | $29,420 |
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 280 | 1.87 | 17.43 | $21.99 | $45,740 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panhandle of Idaho nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $24.86 | $51,710 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 1.78 | 16.63 | $23.07 | $47,980 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.95 | 8.89 | $22.30 | $46,390 |
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 280 | 1.87 | 17.43 | $21.99 | $45,740 |
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $21.71 | $45,150 |
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.
(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