Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary
In Tennessee, earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $58,670 at the median, or about $28.21 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $65,349 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 29.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Tennessee?
About earth drillers, except oil and gas
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Earth drillers, except oil and gas pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level earth drillers, except oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $62K | +5% | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $59K | +0% | 160 |
| Chattanooga | $57K | -3% | 40 |
| Knoxville | $48K | -17% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track earth drillers, except oil and gas salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a earth drillers, except oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new earth drillers, except oil and gas typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,617/month. At HUD’s $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for earth drillers, except oil and gas?
Tennessee pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do earth drillers, except oil and gas make in Tennessee?
The median is $58,670 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,620, and experienced earth drillers, except oil and gas can clear $76,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,098/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 29.6% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $65,349 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.