Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary
In Illinois, earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $79,080 at the median, or about $38.02 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $84,262 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 27.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Illinois?
About earth drillers, except oil and gas
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for earth drillers, except oil and gas, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Illinois
Entry-level earth drillers, except oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $82K | +4% | 220 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a earth drillers, except oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/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 Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new earth drillers, except oil and gas typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,701/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Illinois?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $79K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for earth drillers, except oil and gas?
Illinois pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Illinois?
The median is $79,080 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,690, and experienced earth drillers, except oil and gas can clear $107,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,009/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 28.1% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $84,262 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.