Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in Illinois
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Illinois earn a median of $79,080 a year ($38.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,980 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $60,190. Illinois ranks 3rd of 48 states for earth drillers, except oil and gas pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.05 earth drillers, except oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $81,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,690 | $29.66 |
| 25th percentile | $67,820 | $32.61 |
| Median | $79,080 | $38.02 |
| 75th percentile | $103,480 | $49.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,980 | $51.91 |
| Average (mean) | $81,990 | $39.42 |
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 | $6,590 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,295 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,041.54 |
| Weekly | $1,520.77 |
| Hourly | $38.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $79,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $81,960 | 220 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $55,700 | 110 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $80,600 | $38.75 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $74,830 | $35.98 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $41,680 | $20.04 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $81,860 | $39.36 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $60,520 | $29.10 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $75,890 | $36.48 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $72,800 | $35.00 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $45,900 | $22.07 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Electrician | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Carpenter | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $105,750 | $50.84 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $99,950 | $48.05 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Illinois is $79,080 a year, or $38.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Illinois?
The top 10% of earth drillers, except oil and gas in Illinois earn at least $107,980 a year. The top 25% earn $103,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,690 a year, and a quarter of earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $67,820 or less.
How many earth drillers, except oil and gas work in Illinois?
About 330 earth drillers, except oil and gas are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.