Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in California
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in California earn a median of $66,910 a year ($32.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,630 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,640 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $60,190. California ranks 7th of 48 states for earth drillers, except oil and gas pay. There are 0.09 earth drillers, except oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $69,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for earth drillers, except oil and gas in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| 25th percentile | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| Median | $66,910 | $32.17 |
| 75th percentile | $79,420 | $38.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,640 | $44.06 |
| Average (mean) | $69,450 | $33.39 |
Half of earth drillers, except oil and gas earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,575.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,787.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,573.46 |
| Weekly | $1,286.73 |
| Hourly | $32.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $66,910 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $76,850 | 120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $71,790 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $64,200 | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $63,460 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $63,000 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $62,790 | 240 |
| Visalia, CA | $58,670 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for earth drillers, except oil and gas
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $80,490 |
| Alaska | $80,040 |
| Illinois | $79,080 |
| New Jersey | $77,950 |
| Montana | $71,470 |
| Wisconsin | $68,320 |
| California | $66,910 |
| New Hampshire | $66,410 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 |
| Kansas | $65,600 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $51,720 | $24.87 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $62,790 | $30.19 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $65,520 | $31.50 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $61,620 | $29.63 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $80,370 | $38.64 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $55,480 | $26.67 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Carpenter | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,270 | $28.98 |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,680 | $46.96 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a earth drillers, except oil and gas make in California?
The median salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas in California is $66,910 a year, or $32.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid earth drillers, except oil and gas make in California?
The top 10% of earth drillers, except oil and gas in California earn at least $91,640 a year. The top 25% earn $79,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,950 a year, and a quarter of earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $58,870 or less.
How many earth drillers, except oil and gas work in California?
About 1,630 earth drillers, except oil and gas are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.