Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in West Virginia
Want to work as an Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in West Virginia? Here’s what you need to know. 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.
What do Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Make in West Virginia?
For a earth drillers, except oil and gas working in West Virginia, the median annual wage is $46,920 per year (or roughly $22.56/hour).Annual wages span from $38,490 at the 10th percentile to $63,370 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,490 | $18.51 |
| 25th percentile | $40,090 | $19.28 |
| Median (50th) | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| 75th percentile | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| 90th percentile | $63,370 | $30.47 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in West Virginia nationwide is 1.78, indicating that earth drillers, except oil and gas are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, earth drillers, except oil and gas earn a median of $53,437 per year ($25.69/hour), lower than the West Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 365,705 earth drillers, except oil and gas across the United States. In West Virginia alone, about 140 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 280 earth drillers, except oil and gas.
Top States for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Employment
The table below shows the states where the most earth drillers, except oil and gas work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 1,400 |
| Texas | 1,230 |
| Florida | 1,150 |
| Pennsylvania | 820 |
| Michigan | 780 |
| Arizona | 680 |
| Nevada | 670 |
| Idaho | 660 |
| New York | 580 |
| Georgia | 530 |
| Utah | 500 |
| Tennessee | 470 |
| Missouri | 440 |
| Virginia | 430 |
| Illinois | 410 |
| Ohio | 400 |
| Louisiana | 400 |
| New Jersey | 390 |
| North Carolina | 390 |
| Indiana | 380 |
Highest-Paying States for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Where earth drillers, except oil and gas earn the most: earth drillers, except oil and gas.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $80,780 |
| Illinois | $79,860 |
| New Jersey | $78,340 |
| Alaska | $76,080 |
| Washington | $74,570 |
| New York | $74,150 |
| Nevada | $70,340 |
| Delaware | $68,070 |
| Wisconsin | $67,030 |
| Colorado | $66,500 |
Skills
The most important earth drillers, except oil and gas skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for earth drillers, except oil and gas, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, earth drillers, except oil and gas typically:
- Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
- Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
- Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
- Document geological formations encountered during work.
- Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
- Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
Work Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Ground Transportation
- Plumbing & Water Supply
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like earth drillers, except oil and gas include:
- Construction Laborers
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Pile Driver Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
Also Known As
Auger Operator, Blast Driller, Blast Hole Driller, Boring Machine Operator, Churn Drill Operator, Churn Driller, Construction Driller, Construction Well Drill Operator, Core Driller, Debris Monitor, Deep Well Contractor, Diamond Driller, Directional Drill Operator, Directional Driller, Drill Hand.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-5023.00