Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in Virginia
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Virginia earn a median of $55,470 a year ($26.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,730 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $60,190. Virginia ranks 39th of 48 states for earth drillers, except oil and gas pay. There are 0.11 earth drillers, except oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $58,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| 25th percentile | $47,890 | $23.02 |
| Median | $55,470 | $26.67 |
| 75th percentile | $64,150 | $30.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,730 | $34.96 |
| Average (mean) | $58,090 | $27.93 |
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 | $4,622.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,311.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,133.46 |
| Weekly | $1,066.73 |
| Hourly | $26.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $55,470 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $59,770 | 140 |
| Richmond, VA | $51,120 | 70 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,400 | 70 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $59,480 | $28.60 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $63,480 | $30.52 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $76,900 | $36.97 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,260 | $37.62 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $61,410 | $29.52 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $50,350 | $24.21 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $63,920 | $30.73 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| Construction Laborer | $43,560 | $20.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $78,640 | $37.81 |
| Electrician | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Carpenter | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $60,470 | $29.07 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $57,160 | $27.48 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Virginia is $55,470 a year, or $26.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Virginia?
The top 10% of earth drillers, except oil and gas in Virginia earn at least $72,730 a year. The top 25% earn $64,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,370 a year, and a quarter of earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $47,890 or less.
How many earth drillers, except oil and gas work in Virginia?
About 440 earth drillers, except oil and gas are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.