Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

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.

Salary by State

State Name	Employment	Annual Salary	Hourly Salary
Alabama	100	$47,380	$22.78
Alaska	290	$69,610	$33.47
Arizona	520	$57,320	$27.56
Arkansas	100	$61,100	$29.38
California	1,250	$59,480	$28.60
Colorado	310	$52,140	$25.07
Connecticut	100	$46,670	$22.44
Delaware		$48,740	$23.43
Florida	790	$45,310	$21.78
Georgia		$41,960	$20.17
Idaho	230	$48,960	$23.54
Illinois	180	$66,940	$32.18
Indiana	490	$50,890	$24.47
Iowa	230	$50,010	$24.04
Kansas	100	$43,410	$20.87
Kentucky	240	$47,920	$23.04
Louisiana	150	$65,540	$31.51
Maine	70	$50,000	$24.04
Maryland	210	$55,340	$26.61
Massachusetts	280	$68,900	$33.12
Michigan	570	$53,590	$25.76
Minnesota	400	$52,070	$25.03
Mississippi	130	$54,250	$26.08
Missouri	260	$43,310	$20.82
Montana	250	$57,320	$27.56
Nebraska	120	$56,440	$27.13
Nevada	470	$58,440	$28.10
New Hampshire	200	$57,840	$27.81
New Jersey	400	$61,690	$29.66
New Mexico	60	$50,450	$24.25
New York	580	$68,800	$33.08
North Carolina	340	$47,580	$22.88
North Dakota	110	$47,920	$23.04
Ohio	430	$49,460	$23.78
Oklahoma	50	$43,610	$20.97
Oregon	250	$65,090	$31.29
Pennsylvania	660	$48,300	$23.22
South Carolina	140	$41,580	$19.99
South Dakota	70	$49,180	$23.64
Tennessee	410	$45,720	$21.98
Texas	2,250	$50,690	$24.37
Utah	360	$56,670	$27.24
Vermont	80	$57,680	$27.73
Virginia	660	$49,680	$23.89
Washington	280	$48,920	$23.52
West Virginia	110	$43,640	$20.98
Wisconsin	170	$55,710	$26.78
Wyoming	40	$59,360	$28.54

Education

The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to set up, maintain, repair, and operate well drilling equipment; locate, drill, construct, and develop water, gas, and oil wells; and test and monitor wells to ensure adequate flow. Includes applications to home, business, and industrial uses.

Southwest Mississippi Community College

Summit, MS

Associate Degree

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to operate and maintain a variety of heavy equipment, such as a crawler tractors, motor graders and scrapers, shovels, rigging devices, hoists, and jacks. Includes instruction in digging, ditching, sloping, stripping, grading, and backfiling, clearing and excavating.