Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary in Knoxville, TN
In Knoxville, TN, earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $47,470 at the median — $22.82 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $51,280 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month — about 43.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level earth drillers, except oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $40K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $81K | +36% | 160 |
| Illinois | $80K | +34% | 410 |
| New Jersey | $78K | +31% | 390 |
| Alaska | $76K | +28% | 170 |
| Washington | $75K | +25% | 280 |
| New York | $74K | +24% | 580 |
| Nevada | $70K | +18% | 670 |
| Delaware | $68K | +14% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $67K | +12% | 210 |
| Minnesota | $66K | +11% | 280 |
| Vermont | $65K | +9% | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | +9% | 70 |
| Oregon | $64K | +8% | 350 |
| Montana | $63K | +6% | 200 |
| Wyoming | $63K | +5% | 70 |
| California | $62K | +4% | 1,400 |
| Arizona | $62K | +3% | 680 |
| Virginia | $61K | +3% | 430 |
| Louisiana | $61K | +3% | 400 |
| Connecticut | $61K | +2% | 220 |
| Alabama | $60K | +1% | 120 |
| Indiana | $60K | +0% | 380 |
| Maryland | $60K | +0% | 180 |
| Michigan | $58K | -3% | 780 |
| Utah | $58K | -3% | 500 |
| Pennsylvania | $58K | -3% | 820 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -3% | 150 |
| Iowa | $58K | -3% | 140 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -4% | 190 |
| North Dakota | $57K | -5% | 100 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -5% | 110 |
| Kansas | $56K | -5% | 210 |
| South Carolina | $56K | -6% | 150 |
| North Carolina | $56K | -6% | 390 |
| Kentucky | $55K | -7% | 140 |
| Maine | $55K | -8% | 120 |
| Ohio | $54K | -9% | 400 |
| New Mexico | $54K | -9% | 170 |
| Texas | $54K | -10% | 1,230 |
| Georgia | $54K | -10% | 530 |
| Florida | $53K | -12% | 1,150 |
| Idaho | $50K | -16% | 660 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -16% | 470 |
| Missouri | $50K | -16% | 440 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -17% | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -18% | 200 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -21% | 140 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 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
How much do earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $47,470 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,720, and experienced earth drillers, except oil and gas can clear $77,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,348/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 43.9% 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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $51,280 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.