Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-5023 · O*NET 47-5023.00
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.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas fall under the Construction and Extraction category in the U.S. occupational classification. Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas earn a median salary of $59,600 per year, ranking in the top 49% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.9% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do earth drillers, except oil and gas earn?
The median annual wage for earth drillers, except oil and gas is $59,600. That puts earth drillers, except oil and gas at #398 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $44,450 |
| 25th percentile | $49,720 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,600 |
| 75th percentile | $73,530 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,760 |
| Median hourly wage | $28.65/hr |
Is earth drillers, except oil and gas a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for earth drillers, except oil and gas is +2.9%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 18K positions in 2024 to 18K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do earth drillers, except oil and gas do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working earth drillers, except oil and gas, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- 2.Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
- 3.Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
- 4.Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- 5.Record drilling progress and geological data.
- 6.Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- 7.Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
- 8.Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
Top skills for earth drillers, except oil and gas
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become earth drillers, except oil and ga?
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about earth drillers, except oil and gas
What is the median salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas?
The median annual salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas is $59,600 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is earth drillers, except oil and gas a growing career?
BLS projects +2.9% growth for earth drillers, except oil and gas from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become earth drillers, except oil and ga?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to earth drillers, except oil and gas?
Related occupations within the Construction and Extraction category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.