Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in Tennessee
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Tennessee earn a median of $58,670 a year ($28.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,630 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $60,190. Tennessee ranks 31st of 48 states for earth drillers, except oil and gas pay. There are 0.14 earth drillers, except oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $59,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,620 | $20.97 |
| 25th percentile | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| Median | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| 75th percentile | $64,670 | $31.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,630 | $36.84 |
| Average (mean) | $59,600 | $28.65 |
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 | $4,889.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,444.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,256.54 |
| Weekly | $1,128.27 |
| Hourly | $28.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,670 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $61,710 | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $58,950 | 160 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $57,170 | 40 |
| Knoxville, TN | $48,410 | 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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,160 | $23.16 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $74,190 | $35.67 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,780 | $28.26 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,000 | $21.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $74,470 | $35.81 |
| Electrician | $61,090 | $29.37 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $58,600 | $28.17 |
| Carpenter | $50,830 | $24.44 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $47,910 | $23.04 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $43,230 | $20.78 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Tennessee is $58,670 a year, or $28.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of earth drillers, except oil and gas in Tennessee earn at least $76,630 a year. The top 25% earn $64,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,620 a year, and a quarter of earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $47,620 or less.
How many earth drillers, except oil and gas work in Tennessee?
About 450 earth drillers, except oil and gas are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.