Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
SOC 47-5023 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas is $56,660, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $60,250, and an estimated 18,010 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2021 and 2023, pay rose +17.4% while consumer prices rose 12.4% — a real change of +4.4% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 2.9% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $56,660 | $56,660 | 18,010 |
| 2022 | $51,740 | $53,870 | 19,010 |
| 2021 | $48,250 | $54,256 | 15,800 |
Nominal change
+17.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+12.4%
Real change
+4.4%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+2.9%
About average
Employment 2024
18,300
Projected 2034
18,800
Annual Openings
1,700
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $56,660. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $93,610 | +65.2% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $77,240 | +36.3% | 430 |
| New York | $75,130 | +32.6% | 420 |
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $75,020 | +32.4% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $74,390 | +31.3% | 320 |
| Illinois | $71,570 | +26.3% | 220 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $68,920 | +21.6% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $66,320 | +17% | 570 |
| Wisconsin | $65,690 | +15.9% | 230 |
| Connecticut | $64,010 | +13% | 160 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$40,560
25th Pct
$47,840
Median
$56,660
75th Pct
$67,700
90th Pct
$82,280
Related Occupations in Construction & Extraction
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.