Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$60,190
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$28.94
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$83,800
entry level starts ~$44,460
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 19,000 employed

How much do Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas make?

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas earn a median annual salary of $60,190 in the United States, which works out to roughly $28.94 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $44,460 at the entry level and $83,800 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $49,900 and $72,450 a year.

That is $1,200 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary range by percentile

Half of all Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas earn between $49,900 and $72,450 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$44,460$21.38
25th percentile (early career)$49,900$23.99
50th percentile (median)$60,190$28.94
75th percentile (experienced)$72,450$34.83
90th percentile (top earners)$83,800$40.29

Highest-paying states for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay at $80,490 a year, followed by Alaska ($80,040) and Illinois ($79,080). At the other end, Maine posts the lowest median at $45,560 — a gap of $34,930 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Washington$80,490$38.70+34%
2Alaska$80,040$38.48+33%
3Illinois$79,080$38.02+31%
4New Jersey$77,950$37.48+30%
5Montana$71,470$34.36+19%

Workforce and education

About 19,000 people work as Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $62,830 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas make in the United States?
The median Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in the United States is $60,190 per year, or about $28.94 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $44,460, while the top 10% of earners make $83,800 or more.
How does Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas median of $60,190 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas, with a median salary of $80,490 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas work in the United States?
About 19,000 people were employed as Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.