How much does a earth driller make?
The median earth driller in the United States earns $60,190 per year, about $28.94 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all earth drillers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 47-5023.
Earth driller salary range
Pay for earth drillers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $44,460 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $83,800. The average (mean) wage of $62,830 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,460 | $21.37 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $49,900 | $23.99 | |
| Median (50th) | $60,190 | $28.94 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $72,450 | $34.83 | |
| 90th percentile | $83,800 | $40.29 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for earth drillers, except oil and gas (SOC 47-5023), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Earth driller salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Earth drillers earn the most in Washington at $80,490 a year, and the least in Maine at $45,560. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $80,490 | 210 |
| Alaska | $80,040 | 290 |
| Illinois | $79,080 | 330 |
| New Jersey | $77,950 | 400 |
| Montana | $71,470 | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $68,320 | 280 |
| California | $66,910 | 1,630 |
| New Hampshire | $66,410 | 80 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 | 140 |
| Kansas | $65,600 | 80 |
| Oregon | $64,920 | 510 |
| Colorado | $64,820 | 280 |
| Wyoming | $64,450 | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $64,180 | 130 |
| Minnesota | $63,790 | 340 |
| Indiana | $62,750 | 440 |
| Michigan | $62,570 | 850 |
| North Dakota | $62,570 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $61,500 | 120 |
| Vermont | $61,420 | 70 |
| Maryland | $61,260 | 120 |
| Nevada | $61,030 | 1,350 |
| Ohio | $61,010 | 390 |
| New York | $60,860 | 670 |
| Mississippi | $60,680 | 250 |
| Utah | $60,490 | 310 |
| Nebraska | $60,200 | 210 |
| New Mexico | $60,140 | 100 |
| Arizona | $58,870 | 850 |
| Texas | $58,700 | 1,930 |
| Tennessee | $58,670 | 450 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,400 | 730 |
| North Carolina | $57,300 | 290 |
| Delaware | $57,160 | N/A |
| South Dakota | $57,160 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $56,160 | 80 |
| Louisiana | $55,690 | 190 |
| West Virginia | $55,540 | 240 |
| Virginia | $55,470 | 440 |
| Florida | $55,320 | 1,630 |
| Idaho | $54,830 | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $54,180 | 250 |
| Iowa | $54,000 | 190 |
| Missouri | $51,530 | 370 |
| Georgia | $50,030 | 870 |
| Alabama | $46,440 | 170 |
| Arkansas | $46,160 | 110 |
| Maine | $45,560 | 70 |
State median wages for earth drillers, except oil and gas (SOC 47-5023), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for earth drillers
The BLS projects employment of earth drillers to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 19,500 jobs in 2025 moving toward 20,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,400 openings a year for earth drillers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an earth driller
The typical entry-level education for earth drillers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation. New hires typically complete long-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an earth driller earns
Experience, licensing, certifications, region, and overtime move these numbers the most. A licensed, experienced worker in a high cost metro or a strong union market lands near the top of the range, while apprentices and workers in rural areas start closer to the bottom.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $80,490) and the lowest (Maine, $45,560) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 19,450 people work as earth drillers in the United States. At $60,190 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Earth driller salary FAQ
How much does an earth driller make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an earth driller is $28.94. The middle half of earth drillers earn between $23.99 and $34.83 per hour.
What is the highest earth driller salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of earth drillers earn more than $83,800 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an earth driller make a year?
The median annual salary for an earth driller is $60,190. The average (mean) wage of $62,830 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an earth driller a well paid job?
At $60,190 a year, an earth driller earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 19,450 people work as earth drillers in the United States.
Which state pays earth drillers the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for earth drillers at $80,490 a year. Alaska ($80,040) and Illinois ($79,080) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an earth driller a good career?
Employment of earth drillers is projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an earth driller?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for earth drillers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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