The highest-paying states for earth drillers, except oil and gas; and explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment of earth drillers, except oil and gas; and explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in those states are also shown in the table. As shown in the table, with an annual salary of $61,990, Alaska is the highest paying state for earth drillers, except oil and gas; and explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters. It is followed by Wyoming (average annual salary $61,810). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in April 2023 [1]. For more salary information of earth drillers, except oil and gas; and explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters in a specific state, use the links in the table.
| Rank | State | Average Salary i | Entry Level Salary i |
# of Empl. i |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $61,990 |
$45,690 | 420 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $61,810 |
$46,280 | 230 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $60,490 |
$35,690 | 120 |
| 4 | Illinois | $60,190 |
$32,470 | 190 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $59,010 |
$43,580 | 80 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $57,550 |
$42,010 | 300 |
| 7 | New York | $56,180 |
$35,990 | 610 |
| 8 | Washington | $55,790 |
$40,230 | 350 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $55,220 |
$36,080 | 210 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $54,660 |
$35,670 | 770 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $54,360 |
$37,170 | 300 |
| 12 | Arizona | $53,590 |
$36,040 | 760 |
| 13 | Kansas | $53,560 |
$31,890 | 170 |
| 14 | Utah | $52,940 |
$37,150 | 320 |
| 15 | Delaware | $52,910 |
$39,130 | 70 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $52,280 |
$32,260 | 430 |
| 17 | California | $51,740 |
$32,520 | 1,760 |
| 18 | Colorado | $51,590 |
$41,800 | 480 |
| 19 | Idaho | $51,580 |
$34,230 | 180 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $51,280 |
$36,600 | 380 |
| 21 | Oregon | $50,970 |
$34,620 | 320 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $50,440 |
$35,110 | 270 |
| 23 | Nevada | $50,070 |
$37,300 | 1,300 |
| 24 | Guam | $49,490 |
$34,680 | 0 |
| 25 | Maryland | $48,860 |
$33,270 | 810 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $48,000 |
$31,520 | 60 |
| 27 | Virginia | $48,000 |
$35,430 | 460 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $47,920 |
$40,610 | 460 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $47,670 |
$34,200 | 120 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $47,290 |
$33,100 | 40 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $47,240 |
$34,630 | 780 |
| 32 | Ohio | $47,170 |
$35,110 | 370 |
| 33 | Indiana | $46,810 |
$38,780 | 720 |
| 34 | Iowa | $46,780 |
$31,010 | 220 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $46,620 |
$29,000 | 80 |
| 36 | Michigan | $46,320 |
$27,260 | 350 |
| 37 | Missouri | $45,950 |
$28,980 | 370 |
| 38 | Montana | $45,770 |
$33,760 | 240 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $45,650 |
$36,270 | 710 |
| 40 | Texas | $45,290 |
$31,260 | 3,110 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $44,800 |
$33,240 | 480 |
| 42 | Vermont | $44,450 |
$32,820 | 70 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $43,430 |
$32,020 | 440 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $43,200 |
$26,300 | 410 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $42,780 |
$29,680 | 320 |
| 46 | Florida | $42,590 |
$26,460 | 1,200 |
| 47 | Alabama | $39,890 |
$30,060 | 330 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $39,500 |
$31,500 | 190 |
| 49 | Maine | $38,360 |
$28,470 | 90 |
| 50 | Georgia | $37,550 |
$29,110 | 210 |
| 51 | Puerto Rico | $22,930 |
$17,280 | 70 |