Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in Colorado
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Colorado earn a median of $64,820 a year ($31.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,180 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $60,190. Colorado ranks 12th of 48 states for earth drillers, except oil and gas pay. There are 0.10 earth drillers, except oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $68,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| 25th percentile | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Median | $64,820 | $31.16 |
| 75th percentile | $81,390 | $39.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,180 | $44.32 |
| Average (mean) | $68,280 | $32.83 |
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 | $5,401.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,700.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,493.08 |
| Weekly | $1,246.54 |
| Hourly | $31.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Colorado at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in cities in Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | $66,360 | 50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $63,760 | 120 |
| Greeley, CO | $61,090 | 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 Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $60,290 | $28.98 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $61,020 | $29.34 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $81,110 | $38.99 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $64,730 | $31.12 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $37,450 | $18.00 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $79,830 | $38.38 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $46,590 | $22.40 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $79,150 | $38.05 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $81,270 | $39.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $81,230 | $39.05 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,900 | $23.03 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado?
The median salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Colorado is $64,820 a year, or $31.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Colorado?
The top 10% of earth drillers, except oil and gas in Colorado earn at least $92,180 a year. The top 25% earn $81,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,190 a year, and a quarter of earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $59,220 or less.
How many earth drillers, except oil and gas work in Colorado?
About 280 earth drillers, except oil and gas are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.