How much does an earth driller make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $28.94 an hour or $5,016 a month.
- Hourly
- $28.94
- Average (mean)
- $62,830
- Jobs
- 19,450
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,460 | $21.38 | |
| 25th | $49,900 | $23.99 | |
| Median | $60,190 | $28.94 | |
| 75th | $72,450 | $34.83 | |
| 90th | $83,800 | $40.29 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Washington | $80,490 |
| Alaska | $80,040 |
| Illinois | $79,080 |
| New Jersey | $77,950 |
| Montana | $71,470 |
| Wisconsin | $68,320 |
| California | $66,910 |
| New Hampshire | $66,410 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 |
| Kansas | $65,600 |
| Oregon | $64,920 |
| Colorado | $64,820 |
| Wyoming | $64,450 |
| Massachusetts | $64,180 |
| Minnesota | $63,790 |
| Indiana | $62,750 |
| Michigan | $62,570 |
| North Dakota | $62,570 |
| South Carolina | $61,500 |
| Vermont | $61,420 |
| Maryland | $61,260 |
| Nevada | $61,030 |
| Ohio | $61,010 |
| New York | $60,860 |
| Mississippi | $60,680 |
| Utah | $60,490 |
| Nebraska | $60,200 |
| New Mexico | $60,140 |
| Arizona | $58,870 |
| Texas | $58,700 |
| Tennessee | $58,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,400 |
| North Carolina | $57,300 |
| Delaware | $57,160 |
| South Dakota | $57,160 |
| Kentucky | $56,160 |
| Louisiana | $55,690 |
| West Virginia | $55,540 |
| Virginia | $55,470 |
| Florida | $55,320 |
| Idaho | $54,830 |
| Oklahoma | $54,180 |
| Iowa | $54,000 |
| Missouri | $51,530 |
| Georgia | $50,030 |
| Alabama | $46,440 |
| Arkansas | $46,160 |
| Maine | $45,560 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Fairbanks, AK | $94,600 |
| Seattle, WA | $89,300 |
| Chicago, IL | $81,960 |
| Anchorage, AK | $80,030 |
| Billings, MT | $78,410 |
| San Francisco, CA | $76,850 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $74,300 |
| New York, NY | $74,120 |
| Portland, OR | $73,560 |
| Boston, MA | $73,090 |
| Saginaw, MI | $72,800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $71,790 |
| Flint, MI | $71,650 |
| Spokane, WA | $71,280 |
| Hartford, CT | $67,530 |
In other countries
Earth Driller belongs to the international group "Miners and quarriers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Derrick Operator$58,620
- Rotary Drill Operator$67,890
- Service Unit Operator$58,160
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator$57,430
- Explosives Worker$61,390
- Continuous Mining Machine Operator$61,810
- Roof Bolter$78,540
- Loading and Moving Machine Operator$74,500
- Underground Mining Machine Operator$70,130
- Rock Splitter$48,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does an earth driller make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $28.94 ($60,190 a year).
How much does an earth driller make a month?
About $5,016 a month before tax, based on a median of $60,190 a year.
How much does an earth driller make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $44,460 or less a year ($21.38 an hour); the top 10% make $83,800 or more.
Which state pays earth drillers the most?
Washington, with a median of $80,490 a year, followed by Alaska ($80,040) and Illinois ($79,080).
Which city pays earth drillers the most?
Fairbanks-College, AK, with a median of $94,600 a year.
How many earth drillers are there in the United States?
About 19,450 people work as earth drillers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.