Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
SOC code 47-5023 · O*NET-SOC 47-5023.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Skilled trades
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$60,190
a year
Hourly
$28.94
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$62,830
$30.21 per hour
Middle 50%
$49,900 – $72,450
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$44,460 – $83,800
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
19,450
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $44,460
- $21.37/hr
- 25th percentile
- $49,900
- $23.99/hr
- Median percentile
- $60,190
- $28.94/hr
- 75th percentile
- $72,450
- $34.83/hr
- 90th percentile
- $83,800
- $40.29/hr
What do earth drillers, except oil and gas do?
Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Fabricate well casings.
- Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
- Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 73% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)73%
- Less than a High School Diploma15%
- Post-Secondary Certificate12%
Common questions
How much does an earth drillers, except oil and gas earn?
The national median is $60,190 a year. The full range runs from $44,460 at the 10th percentile to $83,800 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an earth drillers, except oil and gas without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.3/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical3.5/5
- Administration and Management3.3/5
- Transportation3.3/5
- Public Safety and Security3.3/5
- Design3.1/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Production and Processing2.9/5
- Law and Government2.8/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Selection.