Prevailing Wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
The prevailing wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (SOC 47-5023) is set by DOL using regional wage surveys, so the floor a Drill Operator or Diamond Driller must meet depends on where the work actually takes place. DOL assigns four experience levels, from entry to fully competent, and wages shift considerably across metros.
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Entry-level drillers with limited hands-on experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Workers at this level follow established procedures and have not yet developed independent judgment on drill selection, ground conditions, or site-specific safety protocols.
The most common filing level for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas. Workers have practical field experience, can operate multiple drill types with moderate supervision, and handle standard site conditions with some independent decision-making on equipment setup and hole alignment.
Experienced drillers who work independently across varied ground and project conditions. Workers at this level troubleshoot equipment problems, adapt drilling methods to site geology, and may coordinate with blasting crews or geotechnical teams without direct supervisor oversight.
Senior or lead drillers with comprehensive expertise across rotary, churn, and pneumatic systems. Fully competent workers set production standards, mentor junior crew members, and take primary responsibility for safety compliance, equipment maintenance scheduling, and complex core-sampling or dewatering projects.
Prevailing Wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Flag worksite location before signing
For drilling crews, the LCA worksite is the physical project site, not the employer's office. A contractor headquartered in a low-wage metro may deploy you to Chicago or Seattle, where the prevailing wage floor is significantly higher. Confirm which metro the employer listed on the LCA.
Watch for title misclassification on LCA filings
Roles filed under generic construction SOC codes can miss the Earth Drillers wage floor entirely. If your offer letter says Blast Hole Driller or Highwall Drill Operator but the LCA lists a different SOC, the wage benchmark applied may not match your actual work duties.
Understand why Level 2 dominates drilling sponsorships
Most employers sponsoring Drill Operators file at Level 2 because field experience requirements disqualify true entry-level candidates. If your offer is priced at Level 1 but the role requires independent rig operation, the wage level may be understated for your actual duties.
Search drilling sponsors on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas and lets you filter by location and visa type. That history helps you identify contractors and mining firms that regularly file LCAs for drilling roles rather than one-off sponsors.
Jobs for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-5023.00 alongside Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Blast Hole Driller Prevailing Wage
Blast Hole Driller Prevailing Wage
Blast Hole Driller positions fall under SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Diamond Driller Prevailing Wage
Diamond Driller Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Diamond Driller for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
Drill Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Driller Prevailing Wage
Driller Prevailing Wage
Driller positions fall under SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Hard Rock Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
Hard Rock Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hard Rock Drill Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Highwall Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
Highwall Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
Highwall Drill Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Rock Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
Rock Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
Rock Drill Operator positions fall under SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Underground Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
Underground Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Underground Drill Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Water Well Driller Prevailing Wage
Water Well Driller Prevailing Wage
Water Well Driller is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Well Driller Prevailing Wage
Well Driller Prevailing Wage
Well Driller positions fall under SOC 47-5023.00 (Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas?
DOL sets the prevailing wage for this occupation using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC and must offer at least the DOL-determined wage for the applicable experience level and worksite location. The wage is based on actual reported pay for SOC 47-5023 workers in that metro area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which applies to me?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry-level workers under close supervision, Level 2 to qualified workers with moderate independent judgment, Level 3 to experienced workers who operate independently across varied conditions, and Level 4 to fully competent senior or lead drillers. Your level is determined by the complexity and supervision requirements of the specific position your employer describes on the LCA, not solely by years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same drilling role differ so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so figures reflect actual employer pay in each metro. Dense construction and mining markets like Chicago or Seattle have higher concentrations of unionized or large-contractor employers bidding up wages. The LCA rule requires the employer to list the actual worksite metro, so a drilling assignment in a high-wage area triggers the higher local floor regardless of where the company is based.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An offer below the applicable prevailing wage means the employer cannot lawfully certify the LCA with OFLC, which is a prerequisite for H-1B and most green card filings. USCIS will deny or issue a Request for Evidence on a petition supported by a deficient LCA. The employer must either increase the offered wage to meet the floor or withdraw the petition.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Earth Drillers role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 47-5023 for your target metro and select the appropriate experience level. The result is the DOL-certified floor your employer must meet on the LCA. You can also check OFLC public disclosure data to see what wages recent sponsors actually listed for drilling roles in that area. Migrate Mate lets you filter Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas job listings by location and employer sponsorship history to identify which companies are actively filing.
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