
An official website of the United States government
Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap sub-surface 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. May use explosives. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
18,270 | 4.2 % | $22.87 | $47,570 | 1.1 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $14.81 | $17.29 | $21.36 | $27.03 | $33.62 |
Annual Wage (2) | $30,810 | $35,960 | $44,430 | $56,230 | $69,940 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Utility System Construction | 9,210 | 1.73 | $22.25 | $46,280 |
Support Activities for Mining | 2,580 | 0.80 | $22.96 | $47,770 |
Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 1,980 | 0.29 | $23.99 | $49,890 |
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 1,310 | 0.09 | $21.25 | $44,190 |
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | 630 | 0.63 | $21.39 | $44,500 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Utility System Construction | 9,210 | 1.73 | $22.25 | $46,280 |
Metal Ore Mining | 370 | 0.92 | $24.97 | $51,930 |
Support Activities for Mining | 2,580 | 0.80 | $22.96 | $47,770 |
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | 630 | 0.63 | $21.39 | $44,500 |
Coal Mining | 170 | 0.33 | $21.56 | $44,840 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 60 | 0.01 | $51.51 | $107,140 |
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 60 | (7) | $33.79 | $70,280 |
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 170 | 0.05 | $28.60 | $59,480 |
Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | (8) | (8) | $26.97 | $56,090 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | 70 | 0.02 | $26.79 | $55,720 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 2,190 | 0.13 | 1.02 | $26.96 | $56,080 |
Texas | 2,130 | 0.18 | 1.39 | $18.92 | $39,360 |
Florida | 1,250 | 0.15 | 1.15 | $18.92 | $39,360 |
Pennsylvania | 780 | 0.13 | 1.05 | $20.56 | $42,770 |
Michigan | 740 | 0.17 | 1.36 | $19.18 | $39,890 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nevada | 650 | 0.48 | 3.82 | $27.84 | $57,910 |
Alaska | 130 | 0.42 | 3.29 | $27.98 | $58,210 |
Wyoming | 110 | 0.41 | 3.21 | $23.96 | $49,830 |
Nebraska | 400 | 0.41 | 3.24 | $20.07 | $41,740 |
Utah | 340 | 0.23 | 1.86 | $22.20 | $46,170 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | 540 | 0.06 | 0.46 | $32.20 | $66,980 |
Massachusetts | 170 | 0.05 | 0.37 | $29.64 | $61,640 |
New Jersey | 640 | 0.16 | 1.26 | $29.14 | $60,610 |
Vermont | 70 | 0.22 | 1.72 | $28.67 | $59,620 |
Alaska | 130 | 0.42 | 3.29 | $27.98 | $58,210 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 650 | 0.07 | 0.54 | $32.71 | $68,040 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 650 | 0.11 | 0.84 | $25.36 | $52,760 |
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 500 | 0.34 | 2.67 | $27.35 | $56,890 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 410 | 0.12 | 0.91 | $19.88 | $41,350 |
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 400 | 0.19 | 1.54 | $25.72 | $53,490 |
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 380 | 0.28 | 2.20 | $22.04 | $45,850 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 300 | 0.12 | 0.93 | $19.51 | $40,580 |
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 270 | 0.27 | 2.11 | $21.28 | $44,270 |
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 240 | 0.19 | 1.49 | $19.17 | $39,880 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 230 | 0.08 | 0.64 | $26.04 | $54,160 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Madera, CA | 60 | 1.25 | 9.90 | $21.18 | $44,040 |
College Station-Bryan, TX | 100 | 0.84 | 6.66 | $15.29 | $31,800 |
Winchester, VA-WV | 40 | 0.61 | 4.86 | $19.76 | $41,100 |
Salem, OR | 100 | 0.57 | 4.49 | $25.93 | $53,940 |
Duluth, MN-WI | 70 | 0.55 | 4.34 | $25.11 | $52,220 |
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 70 | 0.54 | 4.31 | $18.48 | $38,430 |
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 70 | 0.54 | 4.26 | (8) | (8) |
Idaho Falls, ID | 30 | 0.48 | 3.77 | $32.77 | $68,160 |
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 180 | 0.36 | 2.87 | $20.04 | $41,690 |
Salisbury, MD-DE | 60 | 0.35 | 2.77 | $22.62 | $47,040 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Idaho Falls, ID | 30 | 0.48 | 3.77 | $32.77 | $68,160 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 650 | 0.07 | 0.54 | $32.71 | $68,040 |
Evansville, IN-KY | (8) | (8) | (8) | $32.30 | $67,180 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 150 | 0.06 | 0.48 | $31.90 | $66,360 |
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $29.73 | $61,840 |
Santa Rosa, CA | 40 | 0.18 | 1.45 | $29.49 | $61,340 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 70 | 0.01 | 0.11 | $29.21 | $60,760 |
Dayton, OH | (8) | (8) | (8) | $28.68 | $59,640 |
Kansas City, MO-KS | (8) | (8) | (8) | $28.59 | $59,470 |
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 120 | 0.12 | 0.94 | $28.44 | $59,160 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 510 | 5.28 | 41.84 | $28.22 | $58,700 |
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.07 | 8.47 | $19.79 | $41,160 |
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.41 | 3.24 | $14.65 | $30,470 |
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.57 | 4.53 | $20.74 | $43,130 |
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.57 | 4.51 | $18.13 | $37,700 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 510 | 5.28 | 41.84 | $28.22 | $58,700 |
South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.07 | 8.47 | $19.79 | $41,160 |
Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.79 | 6.27 | $27.59 | $57,380 |
Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.77 | 6.09 | $19.02 | $39,560 |
Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.73 | 5.81 | $20.02 | $41,640 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $30.70 | $63,860 |
Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 510 | 5.28 | 41.84 | $28.22 | $58,700 |
Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.79 | 6.27 | $27.59 | $57,380 |
Kansas nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $27.47 | $57,140 |
Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.41 | 3.28 | $27.10 | $56,360 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2018 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2019