Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary
In Anchorage, AK, earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $80,030 at the median, or about $38.48 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $75,915 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,376/month, or 25.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K get you in Anchorage?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Anchorage’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About earth drillers, except oil and gas
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What this looks like in Anchorage
Anchorage sits well above the national pay line for earth drillers, except oil and gas, local pay runs about 33% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,376/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas in metros near Anchorage, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College | $95K | $92K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Anchorage, AK
Entry-level earth drillers, except oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $80K | +34% | 210 |
| Alaska | $80K | +33% | 290 |
| Illinois | $79K | +31% | 330 |
| New Jersey | $78K | +30% | 400 |
| Montana | $71K | +19% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $68K | +14% | 280 |
| California | $67K | +11% | 1,630 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | +10% | 80 |
| Connecticut | $66K | +9% | 140 |
| Kansas | $66K | +9% | 80 |
| Oregon | $65K | +8% | 510 |
| Colorado | $65K | +8% | 280 |
| Wyoming | $64K | +7% | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $64K | +7% | 130 |
| Minnesota | $64K | +6% | 340 |
| Indiana | $63K | +4% | 440 |
| North Dakota | $63K | +4% | 110 |
| Michigan | $63K | +4% | 850 |
| South Carolina | $62K | +2% | 120 |
| Vermont | $61K | +2% | 70 |
| Maryland | $61K | +2% | 120 |
| Nevada | $61K | +1% | 1,350 |
| Ohio | $61K | +1% | 390 |
| New York | $61K | +1% | 670 |
| Mississippi | $61K | +1% | 250 |
| Utah | $60K | +0% | 310 |
| Nebraska | $60K | +0% | 210 |
| New Mexico | $60K | -0% | 100 |
| Arizona | $59K | -2% | 850 |
| Texas | $59K | -2% | 1,930 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -3% | 450 |
| Pennsylvania | $57K | -5% | 730 |
| North Carolina | $57K | -5% | 290 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -5% | 80 |
| Delaware | $57K | -5% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $56K | -7% | 80 |
| Louisiana | $56K | -7% | 190 |
| West Virginia | $56K | -8% | 240 |
| Virginia | $55K | -8% | 440 |
| Florida | $55K | -8% | 1,630 |
| Idaho | $55K | -9% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $54K | -10% | 250 |
| Iowa | $54K | -10% | 190 |
| Missouri | $52K | -14% | 370 |
| Georgia | $50K | -17% | 870 |
| Alabama | $46K | -23% | 170 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -23% | 110 |
| Maine | $46K | -24% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track earth drillers, except oil and gas salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a earth drillers, except oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Anchorage?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 25.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,376/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Anchorage?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new earth drillers, except oil and gas typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,671/month. At HUD’s $1,376/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is earth drillers, except oil and ga a high-paying job in Anchorage?
Local pay is 33% above the national median — $80K here vs. $60K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Anchorage compare to the national average for earth drillers, except oil and gas?
Anchorage pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Anchorage, AK?
The median is $80,030 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,180, and experienced earth drillers, except oil and gas can clear $94,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Anchorage?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,391/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,376/month, which eats 25.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a earth drillers, except oil and gas salary go in Anchorage?
Anchorage has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median earth drillers, except oil and gas salary is worth about $75,915 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do earth drillers, except oil and gas get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.