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Pile Driver Operators Salaries by State

Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for pile driver operatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).

National mean salary $80,710 ≈ $39/hr
National median salary $73,300
Total employment 2,310 nationwide

Job Outlook, 2024–2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.

Projected growth +4.3% Faster than average
Annual openings 300 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 3,200 → 3,300 (+100)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Salary Map

Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.

Mean annual wage $50,000–$58,000 $58,000–$63,000 $63,000–$83,000 $83,000–$109,000 $109,000–$117,000 U.S. mean $80,710

💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States

  1. Washington$117,480
  2. Massachusetts$112,680
  3. California$109,410
  4. Pennsylvania$92,480
  5. Alaska$82,740

📉 5 Lowest-Paying States

  1. Georgia$49,560
  2. Tennessee$54,690
  3. Florida$58,370
  4. Virginia$60,680
  5. Texas$62,600

State Rankings

⇄ Compare specific states
#StateMeanMedian Hourlyvs. U.S.Employment
1 Washington $117,480 $111,080 $56 +45.6% 50
2 Massachusetts $112,680 $120,980 $54 +39.6% 130
3 California $109,410 $110,340 $53 +35.6% 480
4 Pennsylvania $92,480 $93,550 $44 +14.6% 90
5 Alaska $82,740 $78,080 $40 +2.5% 190
6 Louisiana $65,570 $61,150 $32 -18.8% 180
7 Texas $62,600 $66,140 $30 -22.4% 280
8 Virginia $60,680 $59,910 $29 -24.8% 150
9 Florida $58,370 $51,830 $28 -27.7% 270
10 Tennessee $54,690 $54,830 $26 -32.2% 30
11 Georgia $49,560 $47,930 $24 -38.6% 50

Top-Paying Metro Areas

Highest median pay among 16 metro areas.

#Metro areaMedianMeanEmployment
1 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $132,850 $123,300 70
2 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $124,670 $114,820 70
3 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $121,900 $113,900 90
4 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $111,070 $117,350 50
5 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $106,660 $106,650 130
6 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $104,870 $100,720 50
7 Anchorage, AK $89,880 $92,380 80
8 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $78,080 $73,010 100
9 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $70,030 $66,730 80
10 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $66,140 $65,720 90

Pay by Industry

Highest-paying industries employing pile driver operatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).

#IndustryMedianMeanEmployment
1 Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors $102,030 $102,600 220
2 Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors $102,030 $103,380 190
3 Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction $92,980 $92,340 490
4 Specialty Trade Contractors $91,330 $90,690 540
5 Other Specialty Trade Contractors $79,350 $86,100 270
6 Sector 23 - Construction $74,670 $82,040 2,110
7 Cross-industry, Private Ownership only $74,100 $81,510 2,220
8 Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local $73,300 $80,710 2,310
9 Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction $68,380 $81,680 1,300
10 Construction of Buildings $66,140 $65,980 260
11 Nonresidential Building Construction $66,140 $65,350 240
12 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction $64,370 $80,730 610

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do pile driver operators make in the U.S.?

The median pile driver operators salary in the United States is $73,300 per year (mean $80,710), and about 80% earn between $48,790 and $124,600.

How much do pile driver operators make per hour?

Roughly $39 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $80,710 and 2,080 work hours per year.

Which state pays pile driver operators the most?

Washington has the highest average pay for pile driver operators at $117,480 per year (median $111,080).

What is the job outlook for pile driver operators?

Employment is projected to change +4.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 300 openings per year.