SOC 47-5023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas — Colorado
Colorado · 3 metro areas compared
At $64,820, median pay for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Colorado tracks the national median of $60,190 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $64,820, median pay for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Colorado tracks the national median of $60,190 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $59,220 and $81,390. The lowest tenth earn under $46,190, while the highest tenth earn more than $92,180.
Employment stands at 280, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 48 states with published data for this occupation, Colorado ranks 12th by median wage. Colorado Springs leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $66,360. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 349th of 738 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,190 | −23.3% |
| 25th | $59,220 | −1.6% |
| Median (50th) | $64,820 | +7.7% |
| 75th | $81,390 | +35.2% |
| 90th | $92,180 | +53.1% |
| Mean | $68,280 | +13.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Springs | $66,360 | 50 | |
| 2 | Denver | $63,760 | 120 | |
| 3 | Greeley | $61,090 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $64,820 buys what $62,871 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$64,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$62,871US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $64,820 a year, 7.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,190 to $92,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 280 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 48 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Colorado Springs, at $66,360.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $64,820, or $31.16 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 Colorado is 7.7% 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 Colorado earns more than $92,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,190 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 Colorado Springs, at $66,360 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 280 jobs in this occupation in Colorado. 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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