Earth Drillers Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
The median earth drillers salary in the United States is $60,190 per year ($28.94/hour). Salaries range from $44,460 at the entry level to $83,800+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 19,450 earth drillers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.9% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$60,190
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.94
per hour
Employment
19,450
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$44,460
25th percentile
$49,900
Median
$60,190
75th percentile
$72,450
90th percentile
$83,800
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+2.9%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
1,700
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
+ Less than 5 years experience
Training Needed
Long-term on-the-job training
Earth Drillers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$46K$80K■ No data
Top Paying States
Washington
$80K
+34%
Alaska
$80K
+33%
Illinois
$79K
+31%
New Jersey
$78K
+30%
Montana
$71K
+19%
Wisconsin
$68K
+14%
California
$67K
+11%
New Hampshire
$66K
+10%
Connecticut
$66K
+9%
Kansas
$66K
+9%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $80,490 | +33.7% |
| Alaska | $80,040 | +33.0% |
| Illinois | $79,080 | +31.4% |
| New Jersey | $77,950 | +29.5% |
| Montana | $71,470 | +18.7% |
| Wisconsin | $68,320 | +13.5% |
| California | $66,910 | +11.2% |
| New Hampshire | $66,410 | +10.3% |
| Connecticut | $65,710 | +9.2% |
| Kansas | $65,600 | +9.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 48
Earth Drillers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $94,600 | +57.2% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $89,300 | +48.4% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $81,960 | +36.2% |
| Anchorage, AK | $80,030 | +33.0% |
| Billings, MT | $78,410 | +30.3% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $76,850 | +27.7% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $74,300 | +23.4% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $74,120 | +23.1% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $73,560 | +22.2% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $73,090 | +21.4% |
Showing 1–10 of 82
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A earth drillers earning $60,190/year would need 990 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1063 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how earth drillers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Earth Drillers salary trend (2011–2024) →