Helpers--Extraction Workers earn a median of $47,730 per year ($22.95/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.7% through 2035, with about 700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-5081
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Helpers--Extraction Worker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $47,730a year, or $22.95/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $68K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.7%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 7007,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20257.1K
- Projected 20357.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 7.1K Projected 2035 7.2K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school96.6%
- Certificate1.7%
- Associate's1.7%
Highest education held by helpers--extraction workers Segment Value High school 96.6% Certificate 1.7% Associate's 1.7%
Also advertised as: Continuous Miner Operator Helper, Driller Helper, Driller's Assistant, Longwall Machine Operator Helper, Miner Helper, Powderman.
Pay
How much do Helpers--Extraction Workers make?
Every helpers--extraction worker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$47,730
Middle half earn $41,430 to $57,920
- 10th
- $36,960
- 25th
- $41,430
- 75th
- $57,920
- 90th
- $68,020
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $36,960 |
| 25th | $41,430 |
| Median | $47,730 |
| 75th | $57,920 |
| 90th | $68,020 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $47,730
- Median hourly wage
- $22.95/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $50,620
- People employed
- 6,700
Versus all US occupations
At $47,730, Helpers--Extraction Workers earn 6% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,250 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 20% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $68,020 or more while the bottom 10% earn $36,960, a gap of 1.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 17% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
West Virginia pays the most at $77,180, and still leads at $86,238 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Helpers--Extraction Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1West Virginia | $77,180 | $86,238 | 360 |
| 2Kentucky | $68,020 | $75,444 | 230 |
| 3Utah | $55,490 | $56,128 | N/A |
| 4Wyoming | $55,240 | $59,596 | 110 |
| 5New York | $54,910 | $50,880 | 210 |
| 6New Mexico | $54,840 | $59,472 | 130 |
| 7New Hampshire | $54,700 | $52,513 | 30 |
| 8New Jersey | $53,820 | $49,465 | N/A |
| 9California | $51,720 | $46,712 | 1,170 |
| 10Maryland | $51,020 | $48,609 | 80 |
Job outlook
Is Helpers--Extraction Worker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | +1.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Helpers--Extraction Workers to change 1.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 700 openings are projected each year, 9.9% of the 7,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Helpers--Extraction Worker
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as helpers--extraction workers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)96.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate1.7%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree1.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 96.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 1.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Helpers--Extraction Worker do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Organize materials to prepare for use.
- Observe and monitor equipment operation during the extraction process to detect any problems.
- Clean up work areas and remove debris after extraction activities are complete.
- Unload materials, devices, and machine parts, using hand tools.
- Load materials into well holes or into equipment, using hand tools.
- Drive moving equipment to transport materials and parts to excavation sites.
- Set up and adjust equipment used to excavate geological materials.
- Repair and maintain automotive and drilling equipment, using hand tools.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.8
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking2.9
- Active Learning2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Learning Strategies2.6
- Mathematics2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
| Mathematics | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.6
- Operation and Control3.5
- Equipment Maintenance3.5
- Troubleshooting3.4
- Repairing3.4
- Coordination3.1
- Equipment Selection3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Operation and Control | 3.5 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.5 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.4 |
| Repairing | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Equipment Selection | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Helpers--Extraction Worker?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Helpers--Extraction Worker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.7
- Investigative2.1
- Social1.8
- Enterprising1.6
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Helpers--Extraction Worker
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Worker
$39,630median a year
Most earn $29K to $56K
+5.3%High school - Production
- Construction and Extraction
Rotary Drill Operator, Oil and Gas
$67,890median a year
Most earn $47K to $102K
+0.8%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
Helpers--Pipelayer, Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter
$42,360median a year
Most earn $34K to $58K
+2.4%High school
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with helpers--extraction workers highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Helpers--Extraction Worker$47,730
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Helpers--Extraction Worker | $47,730 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Helpers--Extraction Worker appears on
Questions
Helpers--Extraction Worker: frequently asked questions
How much do Helpers--Extraction Workers make?
Helpers--Extraction Workers earn a median of $47,730 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.95/hr. The middle half earn between $41,430 and $57,920. The top 10% earn $68,020 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Helpers--Extraction Worker?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Helpers--Extraction Workers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 96.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Helpers--Extraction Worker a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.7% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Helpers--Extraction Worker do?
Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. A core O*NET task: organize materials to prepare for use. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Helpers--Extraction Workers the most?
The highest state medians for Helpers--Extraction Workers are West Virginia ($77,180), Kentucky ($68,020), Utah ($55,490) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Helpers--Extraction Worker?
O*NET scores Helpers--Extraction Workers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.