Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary
In Arkansas, earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $46,160 at the median, or about $22.19 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $52,670 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 32.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $46K get you in Arkansas?
About earth drillers, except oil and gas
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Arkansas runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level earth drillers, except oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track earth drillers, except oil and gas salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a earth drillers, except oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 32.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for earth drillers, except oil and gas in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new earth drillers, except oil and gas typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,237/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Arkansas?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $46K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for earth drillers, except oil and gas?
Arkansas pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Arkansas?
The median is $46,160 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,290, and experienced earth drillers, except oil and gas can clear $62,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,125/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 32.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a earth drillers, except oil and gas salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median earth drillers, except oil and gas salary is worth about $52,670 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.