U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsSet up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration. Excludes "Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas" (47-5021).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21,650 | 5.6 % | $28.15 | $58,540 | 2.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $15.10 | $18.35 | $24.67 | $32.53 | $45.45 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $31,400 | $38,170 | $51,310 | $67,670 | $94,540 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Mining | 16,540 | 5.17 | $27.45 | $57,100 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 4,430 | 2.72 | $30.48 | $63,400 |
| Utility System Construction | 130 | 0.03 | $21.48 | $44,690 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 100 | 0.09 | $35.88 | $74,640 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Mining | 16,540 | 5.17 | $27.45 | $57,100 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 4,430 | 2.72 | $30.48 | $63,400 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 100 | 0.09 | $35.88 | $74,640 |
| Utility System Construction | 130 | 0.03 | $21.48 | $44,690 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 100 | 0.09 | $35.88 | $74,640 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 4,430 | 2.72 | $30.48 | $63,400 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 16,540 | 5.17 | $27.45 | $57,100 |
| Utility System Construction | 130 | 0.03 | $21.48 | $44,690 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | (8) | (8) | $20.64 | $42,930 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,030 | 0.78 | 4.62 | $33.18 | $69,020 |
| Oklahoma | 2,390 | 1.59 | 9.43 | $23.66 | $49,220 |
| Wyoming | 1,610 | 5.89 | 34.91 | $26.23 | $54,570 |
| Louisiana | 1,380 | 0.75 | 4.44 | $27.46 | $57,120 |
| California | 1,140 | 0.08 | 0.48 | $26.75 | $55,630 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 1,610 | 5.89 | 34.91 | $26.23 | $54,570 |
| Oklahoma | 2,390 | 1.59 | 9.43 | $23.66 | $49,220 |
| North Dakota | 450 | 1.20 | 7.11 | $31.89 | $66,330 |
| Texas | 8,030 | 0.78 | 4.62 | $33.18 | $69,020 |
| West Virginia | 520 | 0.75 | 4.42 | $22.55 | $46,900 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 140 | 0.43 | 2.57 | $34.62 | $72,000 |
| Texas | 8,030 | 0.78 | 4.62 | $33.18 | $69,020 |
| Montana | 300 | 0.71 | 4.23 | $32.61 | $67,830 |
| New York | 190 | 0.02 | 0.13 | $32.02 | $66,600 |
| North Dakota | 450 | 1.20 | 7.11 | $31.89 | $66,330 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 3,360 | 1.32 | 7.81 | $35.64 | $74,140 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1,370 | 2.42 | 14.31 | $23.89 | $49,700 |
| Casper, WY | 660 | 16.86 | 99.91 | $24.16 | $50,260 |
| Midland, TX | 650 | 9.29 | 55.04 | $46.93 | $97,620 |
| Odessa, TX | 450 | 7.19 | 42.57 | $34.56 | $71,880 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 370 | 2.14 | 12.67 | $26.68 | $55,490 |
| Lafayette, LA | 350 | 2.41 | 14.28 | $24.48 | $50,930 |
| Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO | 340 | 0.29 | 1.70 | $27.16 | $56,490 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 330 | 1.87 | 11.07 | $28.55 | $59,380 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 280 | 1.08 | 6.41 | $30.86 | $64,190 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | 660 | 16.86 | 99.91 | $24.16 | $50,260 |
| Midland, TX | 650 | 9.29 | 55.04 | $46.93 | $97,620 |
| Odessa, TX | 450 | 7.19 | 42.57 | $34.56 | $71,880 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 210 | 3.73 | 22.10 | $27.31 | $56,800 |
| Farmington, NM | 140 | 2.90 | 17.17 | $24.28 | $50,500 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1,370 | 2.42 | 14.31 | $23.89 | $49,700 |
| Lafayette, LA | 350 | 2.41 | 14.28 | $24.48 | $50,930 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 370 | 2.14 | 12.67 | $26.68 | $55,490 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 180 | 2.02 | 11.98 | $24.43 | $50,820 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 220 | 1.98 | 11.73 | $23.34 | $48,560 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | 650 | 9.29 | 55.04 | $46.93 | $97,620 |
| Anchorage, AK | 50 | 0.29 | 1.69 | $37.22 | $77,410 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 3,360 | 1.32 | 7.81 | $35.64 | $74,140 |
| Odessa, TX | 450 | 7.19 | 42.57 | $34.56 | $71,880 |
| New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA | 170 | 0.32 | 1.92 | $34.56 | $71,880 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 70 | 0.05 | 0.28 | $33.56 | $69,800 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 280 | 1.08 | 6.41 | $30.86 | $64,190 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 120 | 0.53 | 3.15 | $30.25 | $62,920 |
| Abilene, TX | 120 | 1.91 | 11.33 | $30.13 | $62,670 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 330 | 1.87 | 11.07 | $28.55 | $59,380 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 910 | 3.68 | 21.80 | $26.22 | $54,530 |
| Southwestern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 520 | 8.42 | 49.89 | $28.48 | $59,240 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 360 | 0.95 | 5.63 | $17.06 | $35,490 |
| Gulf Coast Texas nonmetropolitan area | 360 | 2.91 | 17.26 | $29.17 | $60,670 |
| Far Western North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 350 | 7.40 | 43.86 | $32.19 | $66,960 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 520 | 8.42 | 49.89 | $28.48 | $59,240 |
| Far Western North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 350 | 7.40 | 43.86 | $32.19 | $66,960 |
| Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 280 | 5.59 | 33.13 | $29.70 | $61,780 |
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 910 | 3.68 | 21.80 | $26.22 | $54,530 |
| Northwestern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 3.38 | 20.05 | $28.46 | $59,190 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Montana nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $42.38 | $88,150 |
| Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.88 | 5.22 | $38.22 | $79,510 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 1.43 | 8.46 | $37.37 | $77,730 |
| Far Western North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 350 | 7.40 | 43.86 | $32.19 | $66,960 |
| West Central North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.36 | 8.06 | $32.02 | $66,600 |
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 mean 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.
(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 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order
List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order
Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files
Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012
