Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in Kentucky
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Kentucky earn a median of $56,160 a year ($27.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,830 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $60,190. Kentucky ranks 36th of 48 states for earth drillers, except oil and gas pay. There are 0.04 earth drillers, except oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.34). The average (mean) salary is $57,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,200 | $21.73 |
| 25th percentile | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Median | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| 75th percentile | $67,250 | $32.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,830 | $35.49 |
| Average (mean) | $57,890 | $27.83 |
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 | $4,680 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,340 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,160 |
| Weekly | $1,080 |
| Hourly | $27.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,160 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $61,980 | 50 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $47,780 | $22.97 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $50,360 | $24.21 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $44,000 | $21.16 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $68,020 | $32.70 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $72,510 | $34.86 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,710 | $21.98 |
| Electrician | $59,720 | $28.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $73,490 | $35.33 |
| Carpenter | $52,680 | $25.33 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $64,160 | $30.84 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Kentucky is $56,160 a year, or $27.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of earth drillers, except oil and gas in Kentucky earn at least $73,830 a year. The top 25% earn $67,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,200 a year, and a quarter of earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $47,580 or less.
How many earth drillers, except oil and gas work in Kentucky?
About 80 earth drillers, except oil and gas are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.