All careers › Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Well driller: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $44,460lowest 10% earn less
- $49,90025th percentile
- $60,190median
- $72,45075th percentile
- $83,800top 10% earn more
Well drillers, which BLS counts as Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas, had a median pay of $60,190 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.6%[2]
- Openings per year
- 1,400[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do well drillers make?
The median wage for earth drillers (except oil and gas) was $60,190 a year, or $28.94 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $62,830 a year, or $30.21 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,460 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $83,800[3]. The middle half of workers earned between $49,900 and $72,450[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].
| Level | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3][9] | $44,460 | $21.37 |
| 25th percentile[3][9] | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Median[1] | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| 75th percentile[3][9] | $72,450 | $34.83 |
| 90th percentile[3][9] | $83,800 | $40.29 |
These figures cover about 19,450 people in wage and salary jobs[10]. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].
Pay by state and city
Washington had the highest median wage at $80,490, followed by Alaska at $80,040 and Illinois at $79,080[12]. New Jersey came next at $77,950[12]. Maine had the lowest published median at $45,560[12].
Texas had the most jobs at 1,930[13]. California and Florida each had 1,630, then Nevada with 1,350 and Georgia with 870[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest median at $81,960[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $76,850[14]. The Minneapolis area was next at $74,300[14]. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ area had the most jobs at 650, with a median of $58,750[15].
Show median pay in 48 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington[12] | $80,490 | 210 |
| Alaska | $80,040 | 290 |
| Illinois | $79,080 | 330 |
| New Jersey | $77,950 | 400 |
| Montana | $71,470 | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $68,320 | 280 |
| California | $66,910 | 1,630 |
| New Hampshire | $66,410 | 80 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 | 140 |
| Kansas | $65,600 | 80 |
| Oregon | $64,920 | 510 |
| Colorado | $64,820 | 280 |
| Wyoming | $64,450 | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $64,180 | 130 |
| Minnesota | $63,790 | 340 |
| Indiana | $62,750 | 440 |
| Michigan | $62,570 | 850 |
| North Dakota | $62,570 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $61,500 | 120 |
| Vermont | $61,420 | 70 |
| Maryland | $61,260 | 120 |
| Nevada | $61,030 | 1,350 |
| Ohio | $61,010 | 390 |
| New York | $60,860 | 670 |
| Mississippi | $60,680 | 250 |
| Utah | $60,490 | 310 |
| Nebraska | $60,200 | 210 |
| New Mexico | $60,140 | 100 |
| Arizona | $58,870 | 850 |
| Texas | $58,700 | 1,930 |
| Tennessee | $58,670 | 450 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,400 | 730 |
| North Carolina | $57,300 | 290 |
| Delaware | $57,160 | n/a |
| South Dakota | $57,160 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $56,160 | 80 |
| Louisiana | $55,690 | 190 |
| West Virginia | $55,540 | 240 |
| Virginia | $55,470 | 440 |
| Florida | $55,320 | 1,630 |
| Idaho | $54,830 | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $54,180 | 250 |
| Iowa | $54,000 | 190 |
| Missouri | $51,530 | 370 |
| Georgia | $50,030 | 870 |
| Alabama | $46,440 | 170 |
| Arkansas | $46,160 | 110 |
| Maine | $45,560 | 70 |
How to become a well driller
- First: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry[6].
- Next: the typical path includes less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation[6].
- Then: workers typically learn through long-term on-the-job training[6].
In an ONET survey of 17 workers, 73% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 15% said less than a diploma and 12% said a post-secondary certificate[16]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture. ONET places the job in a group needing very little to some preparation[17].
What well drillers do
Earth drillers run several kinds of drills. The work includes tapping water and salt deposits, taking core samples for mineral exploration or soil testing, and drilling holes for explosives in mining or construction[18]. Typical tasks include:
- Operating controls to steady the machine and line up the drill[19].
- Starting and stopping the drill and controlling its speed[19].
- Adjusting air pressure, rotary speed and downward pressure for the rock or concrete[19].
- Choosing and attaching drill bits and rods, and adding rods as holes get deeper[19].
- Driving truck-mounted rigs into position and leveling them[19].
- Checking hole depths and alignment[19].
- Doing routine maintenance such as replacing parts and lubricating machinery[19].
- Recording the geological formations met during the work[19].
Job titles workers reported include driller, drill operator and rock drill operator[20].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of earth drillers (except oil and gas) to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 19,500 to 20,200 jobs[2]. Those counts include the self-employed[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[21].
About 1,400 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 4.9% move to a different occupation[22].
Is it a good fit?
The median pay of $60,190 is above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][4]. Entry asks for a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by long-term on-the-job training[6]. Projected growth of 3.6% is close to the 3.5% for all occupations[2][21]. Pay varies by place, from $45,560 in Maine to $80,490 in Washington[12].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a well driller make an hour?
- The median was $28.94 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $30.21[1][7].
- What education do you need to be a well driller?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent for entry, plus long-term on-the-job training[6].
- Is well drilling in demand?
- Employment is projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 1,400 openings a year[2][21][5].
- What is the highest paying state for well drillers?
- Washington had the highest median wage at $80,490, followed by Alaska at $80,040[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in the US was $60,190 per year and $28.94 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas is projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 19,500 to 20,200 jobs (a change of +700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas: 10th percentile $44,460, 25th percentile $49,900, 75th percentile $72,450, 90th percentile $83,800. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,400 openings for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas was $62,830 per year and $30.21 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas: 10th percentile $21.37, 25th percentile $23.99, 75th percentile $34.83, 90th percentile $40.29. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 19,450 people were employed as Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas jobs: Texas 1,930; California 1,630; Florida 1,630; Nevada 1,350; Georgia 870. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (areas with at least 100 jobs): Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $81,960; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $76,850; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $74,300; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $74,120; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $73,560; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $71,790; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $64,360; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $63,760. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas jobs: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 650 (median $58,750); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 530 (median $74,120); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 440 (median $57,970); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 420 (median $60,670); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 390 (median $51,630); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 350 (median $51,360). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 47-5023.00 survey of workers (17 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 73%, Less than a High School Diploma 15%, Post-Secondary Certificate 12% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 47-5023.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. 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. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 47-5023.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Blast Hole Driller, Diamond Driller, Drill Operator, Driller, Hard Rock Drill Operator, Highwall Drill Operator, Rock Drill Operator, Underground Drill Operator. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.