Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $107,980 or more. The middle half of earth drillers (except oil and gas) in Chicago earn between $67,820 and $107,980.
- $64K10th
- $68K25th
- $82KMedian
- $108K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,130 | $7,094 | $40.93 |
| Median | $81,960 | $6,830 | $39.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,820 | $5,652 | $32.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,980 | $8,998 | $51.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Earth drillers (except oil and gas) in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($81,990) and 35% more than the U.S. average ($62,830). At the median the gap is +36% against the U.S. median of $60,190.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $85,130 | $81,960 | $64,020 | $107,980 | 220 |
| Illinois | $81,990 | $79,080 | $61,690 | $107,980 | 330 |
| United States | $62,830 | $60,190 | $44,460 | $83,800 | 19,450 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $85,130, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $64,646 a year, or $5,387 a month and $2,486 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $66,195 | $5,516 |
| Working in IL | $64,646 | $5,387 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for earth drillers (except oil and gas)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $85,130 buys what about $82,176 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$68,140
- Indianapolis, IN$67,040
- Lansing, MI$63,810
- Jackson, MI$60,380
- Saginaw, MI$67,820
- Flint, MI$67,110
Highest-paying cities for earth drillers (except oil and gas)
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($89,050).
- Seattle, WA$89,050
- Fairbanks, AK$85,950
- Chicago, IL$85,130
- Billings, MT$82,250
- San Francisco, CA$78,770
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Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas salary in Chicago: questions
How much do earth drillers (except oil and gas) make an hour in Chicago?
$40.93 an hour on average, and $39.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level earth drillers (except oil and gas) salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the earth drillers (except oil and gas) take-home pay in Chicago?
About $64,646 a year ($5,387 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,130.
Do earth drillers (except oil and gas) earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% more than the U.S. average for this job ($62,830).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-5023; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.40, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.40).
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