Helpers--Extraction Workers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for helpers--extraction workerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Kentucky$66,890
- West Virginia$65,770
- Wyoming$62,870
- Virginia$62,240
- Indiana$60,110
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$35,560
- Oklahoma$36,000
- Texas$41,720
- Florida$43,010
- North Carolina$44,720
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | $66,890 | $68,020 | $32 | +32.1% | 230 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $65,770 | $77,180 | $32 | +29.9% | 360 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $62,870 | $55,240 | $30 | +24.2% | 110 |
| 4 | Virginia | $62,240 | $50,350 | $30 | +23% | 90 |
| 5 | Indiana | $60,110 | $49,490 | $29 | +18.7% | 140 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $57,570 | $54,700 | $28 | +13.7% | 30 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $56,070 | $54,840 | $27 | +10.8% | 130 |
| 8 | New York | $55,890 | $54,910 | $27 | +10.4% | 210 |
| 9 | Alaska | $53,130 | $48,820 | $26 | +5% | 80 |
| 10 | Utah | $52,790 | $55,490 | $25 | +4.3% | — |
| 11 | Montana | $52,040 | $46,720 | $25 | +2.8% | 120 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $51,810 | $53,820 | $25 | +2.4% | — |
| 13 | Maryland | $51,750 | $51,020 | $25 | +2.2% | 80 |
| 14 | California | $51,370 | $51,720 | $25 | +1.5% | 1,170 |
| 15 | Arizona | $51,090 | $49,070 | $25 | +0.9% | — |
| 16 | Oregon | $50,200 | $46,270 | $24 | -0.8% | 90 |
| 17 | Colorado | $49,710 | $37,450 | $24 | -1.8% | 190 |
| 18 | Nevada | $49,630 | $46,610 | $24 | -2% | 230 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $48,450 | $46,940 | $23 | -4.3% | 320 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $48,260 | $48,290 | $23 | -4.7% | 370 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $47,030 | $45,250 | $23 | -7.1% | 60 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $44,720 | $42,670 | $22 | -11.7% | 150 |
| 23 | Florida | $43,010 | $41,090 | $21 | -15% | 420 |
| 24 | Texas | $41,720 | $40,650 | $20 | -17.6% | 970 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $36,000 | $38,510 | $17 | -28.9% | 140 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $35,560 | $36,160 | $17 | -29.8% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 19 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $77,180 | $72,590 | 100 |
| 2 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $68,780 | $70,400 | 60 |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,470 | $58,120 | 170 |
| 4 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $52,120 | $53,090 | 80 |
| 5 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $51,750 | $49,200 | 190 |
| 6 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $51,060 | $51,810 | 170 |
| 7 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $48,820 | $52,900 | 80 |
| 8 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,690 | $49,040 | 50 |
| 9 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,340 | $50,040 | 40 |
| 10 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $47,730 | $49,560 | 100 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing helpers--extraction workerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coal Mining | $70,100 | $71,520 | 800 |
| 2 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $68,780 | $68,650 | 950 |
| 3 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $51,590 | $49,610 | 40 |
| 4 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $51,590 | $49,610 | 40 |
| 5 | Specialty Trade Contractors | $49,330 | $51,830 | — |
| 6 | Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $49,330 | $51,830 | — |
| 7 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $48,540 | $52,900 | 3,060 |
| 8 | Sector 23 - Construction | $47,920 | $49,670 | 3,100 |
| 9 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $47,730 | $50,620 | 6,700 |
| 10 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $47,730 | $50,620 | 6,700 |
| 11 | Utility System Construction | $47,440 | $49,310 | 2,390 |
| 12 | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $47,180 | $49,090 | 2,440 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do helpers--extraction workers make in the U.S.?
The median helpers--extraction workers salary in the United States is $47,730 per year (mean $50,620), and about 80% earn between $36,960 and $68,020.
How much do helpers--extraction workers make per hour?
Roughly $24 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $50,620 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays helpers--extraction workers the most?
Kentucky has the highest average pay for helpers--extraction workers at $66,890 per year (median $68,020).
What is the job outlook for helpers--extraction workers?
Employment is projected to change -1.7% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 700 openings per year.