SOC 47-5023 · Construction and Extraction Occupations · May 2025

How much do Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $55,920. The 10th percentile is $39,940 and the 90th percentile is $61,030. Employment is 60.

Median annual wage

$55,920

10th percentile
$39,940
25th percentile
$50,390
Median
$55,920
75th percentile
$61,030
90th percentile
$61,030
Mean
$55,410

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

A transit bus driver standing beside a bus at a rest stop in Denali
Denali transit bus driver Gary at Teklanika Rest Stop, August 29, 2019. Photograph by Emily Mesner, National Park Service. Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Percentile spread

For Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas, the published 10th percentile is $39,940 and the 90th percentile is $61,030. The difference is $21,090, which is 37.7% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $50,390 to the 75th at $61,030, covers $10,640.

The mean annual wage is $55,410, which sits below the median of $55,920. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median is 7.1% lower than the national median of $60,190 for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas. In 2024 national prices the local median is $60,981, which is 1.3% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 3.6% higher than the Iowa median of $54,000.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 91.701, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $55,920 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas at $60,981 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

2 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ranks 3rd of 3 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

  • Omaha, NE-IA is 118 miles away, with a median of $63,330 and employment of 60. That median is 13.3% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $68,904, against $60,981 here.
  • Kansas City, MO-KS is 186 miles away, with a median of $56,830 and employment of 80. That median is 1.6% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $61,409, against $60,981 here.

Employment share

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas accounts for 0.01% of wage-and-salary employment in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (60 of 404,130). Nationally the occupation is 0.01% of employment (19,450 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.19 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.

Highest-paying jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices

Questions this page answers

How much do Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $55,920. The 10th percentile is $39,940 and the 90th percentile is $61,030. Employment is 60.

How does that compare with the national median for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas?

The local median is 7.1% lower than the national median of $60,190.

What is Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 91.701, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $55,920 is $60,981. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA compare with nearby metros for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas?

Omaha, NE-IA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 118 miles away, at $63,330. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ranks 3rd of 3 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.