SOC 47-5023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas — Anchorage
Anchorage, AK · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Anchorage, AK is $80,030 per year, well above the national median of $60,190.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Anchorage, AK is $80,030 per year, well above the national median of $60,190. The gap of 33.0% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $61,180 at the tenth percentile to more than $94,620 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $61,180 to $94,120.
Fairbanks leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $94,600. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 162nd of 425 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,180 | +1.6% |
| 25th | $61,180 | +1.6% |
| Median (50th) | $80,030 | +33.0% |
| 75th | $94,120 | +56.4% |
| 90th | $94,620 | +57.2% |
| Mean | $75,480 | +25.4% |
Other metro areas in Alaska
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks | $94,600 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Anchorage run 2.4% above the national average, so the median of $80,030 buys what $78,154 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 29.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$78,154US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,030 a year, 33.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,180 to $94,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fairbanks, at $94,600.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Anchorage, AK?
The median annual wage is $80,030, or $38.48 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $60,190, so pay in Anchorage, AK is 33.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Anchorage, AK earns more than $94,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,180 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fairbanks, at $94,600 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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