Occupation salary profile

Helpers--Extraction Workers

SOC 47-5081 BLS OEWS May 2025

Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying equipment or cleaning work area. Apprentice workers are classified with the appropriate skilled construction trade occupation (47-2011 through 47-2231).

National median · BLS
$47,730
▼ -1.38% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$50,620
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
6,700
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Helpers--Extraction Workers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$36,960
25th$41,430
Median (50th)$47,730
75th$57,920
90th — top pay$68,020

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Helpers--Extraction Workers

BLS projects employment of helpers--extraction workers to grow 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 700 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
7,100 → 7,200
+100 jobs
Projected change
+1.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
700
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
5.5% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Helpers--Extraction Workers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Monitoring3.8
  • Operations Monitoring3.6
  • Equipment Maintenance3.5
  • Operation and Control3.5
  • Repairing3.4
  • Troubleshooting3.4
  • Coordination3.1
  • Critical Thinking3.1
  • Equipment Selection3.1
  • Quality Control Analysis3.1
Top knowledge areas
  • Mechanical4.0
  • English Language3.5
  • Transportation3.3
  • Mathematics3.0
  • Administration and Management2.9
  • Public Safety and Security2.9
  • Education and Training2.9
  • Production and Processing2.8
Software and technology used
Google DocsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Word

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What helpers--extraction workers do

  • Observe and monitor equipment operation during the extraction process to detect any problems.
  • Drive moving equipment to transport materials and parts to excavation sites.
  • Unload materials, devices, and machine parts, using hand tools.
  • Set up and adjust equipment used to excavate geological materials.
  • Organize materials to prepare for use.
  • Repair and maintain automotive and drilling equipment, using hand tools.
  • Clean up work areas and remove debris after extraction activities are complete.
  • Clean and prepare sites for excavation or boring.
Also called
Driller HelperDriller's AssistantMiner HelperPowdermanContinuous Miner Operator HelperLongwall Machine Operator HelperSalt Miner
More job titles for this occupation (52)
Blaster HelperBlasting HelperBoring Machine Operator HelperBottom Hole Pressure Recording Operator HelperChurn Driller HelperClean Out Driller HelperClean-Out Driller HelperCoal LoaderCore Drill Operator HelperCore Driller HelperCutter Operator HelperCutting Machine Operator HelperDerrick HandDerrick HelperDerrickman HelperDrill HelperDrilling AssistantExtraction Tech (Extraction Technician)Gravity Prospecting Observer HelperHammerer HelperHorizontal Earth Boring Machine Operator HelperJack SetterJoy Operator HelperLoading Machine Operator HelperMachine HelperMine and Quarry MinerMine LaborerMine Milling WorkerMine Tailings WorkerMiner AssistantMining HelperOre DiggerPowder CarrierPumper HelperRaise Bore HelperRig Builder HelperRoof Bolter HelperRoof ObserverRotary Drill Operator HelperRotary Driller HelperRotary HelperRoughneckSandfill OperatorSeismic Prospecting Observer HelperSeismograph HelperShale Planer Operator HelperShooter HelperShot Core Drill Operator HelperShot Crew HelperTest Borer HelperTunnel MuckerWash Driller Helper

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.