Construction and extraction occupations · SOC 47-5023

Earth drillers, except oil and gas

Earth drillers, except oil and gas earned a median of $59,600 per year in the U.S. in 2024, employment is projected to grow +2.9% from 2024–2034, with about 1,700 openings projected each year. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Data snapshot: June 14, 2026

Median annual pay

$59,600

Above the $49,500 median for all U.S. occupations

Projected growth (2024–2034)

+2.9%

About average vs the +3.1% projected for all occupations

Annual openings (avg)

1,700

Projected 2024–2034

Employed (2024)

18,300

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

Work experience

Less than 5 years

On-the-job training

Long-term on-the-job training

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More occupations in this field

Occupations in the same federal BLS group (Construction and extraction occupations), grouped by the standard occupational classification, not a curated related-occupation mapping.

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers$106,580First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers$78,690Roof bolters, mining$76,640Boilermakers$73,340Construction and building inspectors$72,120Pile driver operators$70,510

Source & methodology

Figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (Employment Projections). Wages are 2024; employment projections cover 2024–2034. Public domain (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Credit BLS.

  • U.S. national figures only, wages and outlook vary by state, metro, employer, and experience.
  • Median wage is the 2024 BLS estimate; projections are BLS model estimates for 2024–2034, not guarantees.
  • Occupational data is national and is NOT an institution-specific or graduate outcome.
  • Very high wages are capped by BLS and stored as null rather than a fabricated number.

Suggested citation

CampusPin. (2026). Earth drillers, except oil and gas, occupation profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/careers/earth-drillers-except-oil-and-gas

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