Helpers--Extraction Workers salary in the U.S.
Helpers--Extraction Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $47,730 a year ($22.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,020 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $50,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for Helpers--Extraction workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| 25th percentile | $41,430 | $19.92 |
| Median | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| 75th percentile | $57,920 | $27.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,020 | $32.70 |
| Average (mean) | $50,620 | $24.34 |
Half of Helpers--Extraction workers 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 | $3,977.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,988.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,835.77 |
| Weekly | $917.88 |
| Hourly | $22.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Helpers--Extraction Workers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $77,180 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $68,020 | 230 |
| Utah | $55,490 | n/a |
| Wyoming | $55,240 | 110 |
| New York | $54,910 | 210 |
| New Mexico | $54,840 | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $54,700 | 30 |
| New Jersey | $53,820 | n/a |
| California | $51,720 | 1,170 |
| Maryland | $51,020 | 80 |
| Virginia | $50,350 | 90 |
| Indiana | $49,490 | 140 |
| Arizona | $49,070 | n/a |
| Alaska | $48,820 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,290 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $46,940 | 320 |
| Montana | $46,720 | 120 |
| Nevada | $46,610 | 230 |
| Oregon | $46,270 | 90 |
| South Dakota | $45,250 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $42,670 | 150 |
| Florida | $41,090 | 420 |
| Texas | $40,650 | 970 |
| Oklahoma | $38,510 | 140 |
| Colorado | $37,450 | 190 |
| Mississippi | $36,160 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for Helpers--Extraction workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,470 | 170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $51,750 | 190 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $51,060 | 170 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,690 | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $47,730 | 100 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $46,890 | 90 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $44,300 | 60 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $43,940 | 110 |
| Midland, TX | $42,810 | 150 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $40,170 | 60 |
| Odessa, TX | $39,480 | 70 |
| Longview, TX | $37,290 | 40 |
| Laredo, TX | $36,580 | 30 |
Metro areas with the most Helpers--Extraction workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 190 | $51,750 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 170 | $51,060 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 170 | $60,470 |
| Midland, TX | 150 | $42,810 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 110 | $43,940 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 100 | $47,730 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 90 | $46,890 |
| Odessa, TX | 70 | $39,480 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 60 | $44,300 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 60 | $40,170 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 50 | $48,690 |
| Longview, TX | 40 | $37,290 |
| Laredo, TX | 30 | $36,580 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $46,960 | $22.58 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,160 | $27.96 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $57,010 | $27.41 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,740 | $23.44 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $70,130 | $33.72 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5081. 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 Helpers--Extraction workers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for Helpers--Extraction workers in the U.S. is $47,730 a year, or $22.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Helpers--Extraction workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of Helpers--Extraction workers in the U.S. earn at least $68,020 a year. The top 25% earn $57,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for Helpers--Extraction workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,960 a year, and a quarter of Helpers--Extraction workers earn $41,430 or less.
How many Helpers--Extraction workers work in the U.S.?
About 6,700 Helpers--Extraction workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.