Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in Montana
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Montana earn a median of $71,470 a year ($34.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,280 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $60,190. Montana ranks 5th of 48 states for earth drillers, except oil and gas pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.36 earth drillers, except oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $72,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Montana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| 25th percentile | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Median | $71,470 | $34.36 |
| 75th percentile | $77,210 | $37.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,280 | $50.13 |
| Average (mean) | $72,910 | $35.05 |
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 | $5,955.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,977.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,748.85 |
| Weekly | $1,374.42 |
| Hourly | $34.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $71,470 salary, see how much house you can afford in Montana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in cities in Montana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | $78,410 | 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 Montana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $77,750 | $37.38 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $51,200 | $24.61 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $65,850 | $31.66 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $84,410 | $40.58 |
| Construction Laborer | $49,830 | $23.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| Carpenter | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $61,580 | $29.61 |
| Electrician | $76,760 | $36.90 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $79,960 | $38.44 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $60,960 | $29.31 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Montana
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 Montana?
The median salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Montana is $71,470 a year, or $34.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Montana?
The top 10% of earth drillers, except oil and gas in Montana earn at least $104,280 a year. The top 25% earn $77,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Montana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,110 a year, and a quarter of earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $60,760 or less.
How many earth drillers, except oil and gas work in Montana?
About 180 earth drillers, except oil and gas are employed in Montana, not counting the self-employed.