Well Driller Salary (2025)
Specialty · SOC Code 47-5021 · 2-year apprenticeship
National Salary Range
Well Driller salaries range from $43,997 to $65,961 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Well Driller Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $65,961 | $39,204 – $95,556 | $34,716 | F | 7,416 |
| Boston, MA | $60,003 | $38,186 – $91,576 | $39,476 | D | 7,143 |
| Portland, OR | $59,332 | $35,981 – $89,372 | $45,640 | D | 2,940 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $59,025 | $38,146 – $90,815 | $51,326 | D | 2,780 |
| New York, NY | $58,988 | $35,428 – $89,703 | $31,544 | F | 6,043 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $57,056 | $36,059 – $88,196 | $53,826 | D | 3,960 |
| Seattle, WA | $56,635 | $36,087 – $86,037 | $38,010 | D | 2,698 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $56,230 | $33,466 – $82,446 | $33,873 | F | 4,811 |
| Detroit, MI | $55,236 | $35,315 – $85,544 | $62,063 | C | 3,040 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $53,668 | $34,137 – $77,623 | $55,904 | D | 1,828 |
| Dallas, TX | $53,206 | $31,679 – $76,685 | $52,163 | D | 4,088 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $52,846 | $34,286 – $76,501 | $57,441 | D | 1,901 |
| Chicago, IL | $52,221 | $30,767 – $74,089 | $48,805 | D | 3,732 |
| St. Louis, MO | $52,124 | $33,753 – $74,471 | $57,916 | D | 2,728 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $51,905 | $32,910 – $79,152 | $49,909 | D | 2,401 |
| Atlanta, GA | $51,585 | $31,146 – $77,822 | $48,665 | D | 4,014 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $50,567 | $30,265 – $73,825 | $48,622 | D | 3,021 |
| Denver, CO | $49,985 | $30,335 – $77,398 | $39,051 | D | 3,799 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $49,642 | $30,492 – $70,556 | $48,196 | D | 2,794 |
| Kansas City, MO | $49,522 | $31,839 – $70,379 | $52,683 | D | 2,837 |
| Raleigh, NC | $48,770 | $29,550 – $69,175 | $48,770 | D | 1,762 |
| Columbus, OH | $48,402 | $29,603 – $73,492 | $52,045 | D | 2,933 |
| Tampa, FL | $48,333 | $31,153 – $73,163 | $47,854 | D | 3,541 |
| Houston, TX | $48,233 | $30,727 – $73,364 | $50,243 | D | 1,829 |
| Nashville, TN | $47,320 | $30,504 – $71,620 | $45,942 | D | 2,764 |
| San Antonio, TX | $46,266 | $29,195 – $71,193 | $51,407 | D | 2,773 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $45,095 | $27,699 – $69,209 | $49,555 | D | 2,726 |
| Miami, FL | $45,094 | $29,251 – $69,567 | $36,962 | F | 4,091 |
| New Orleans, LA | $44,417 | $26,444 – $62,827 | $46,755 | D | 2,460 |
| Charlotte, NC | $43,997 | $27,900 – $64,510 | $44,895 | D | 2,972 |
About Well Driller Pay
Well Drillers earn a national median salary of $52,055 based on 2025 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is San Francisco at $65,961 median, while Charlotte offers the lowest at $43,997.
Becoming a well driller typically requires a 2-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $39,204, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $95,556 or more. With 5% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Related Specialty Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for well drillers is $52,055 based on 2025 BLS data. Pay ranges from $43,997 to $65,961 depending on city, experience, and union status.
San Francisco offers the highest median pay for well drillers at $65,961. However, cost of living matters — the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of D and 5% wage growth over 5 years, well driller offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 101,825 jobs nationwide across 30 metro areas.
Becoming a well driller typically requires a 2-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $39,204 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.