SOC 47-5023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas — Boston
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
In Boston, MA the median wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas is $73,090 a year, which is 21.4% higher than the national figure of $60,190.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Boston, MA the median wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas is $73,090 a year, which is 21.4% higher than the national figure of $60,190. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $54,510 and $74,770. The lowest tenth earn under $54,510, while the highest tenth earn more than $87,900.
The area has 90 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.27 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Of the 687 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 343rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,510 | −9.4% |
| 25th | $54,510 | −9.4% |
| Median (50th) | $73,090 | +21.4% |
| 75th | $74,770 | +24.2% |
| 90th | $87,900 | +46.0% |
| Mean | $70,200 | +16.6% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boston run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $73,090 buys what $69,083 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$73,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$69,083US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $73,090 a year, 21.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $54,510 to $87,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Boston, MA?
The median annual wage is $73,090, or $35.14 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 Boston, MA is 21.4% 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 Boston, MA earns more than $87,900 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $54,510 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in Boston, MA. Self-employed workers are not included.
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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