Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction Employment and Wages in 2022

In 2022, the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction industry employed over 527 thousand people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 7.3% from 2021. The annual mean wage in 2022 was $73,090, and the median wage was $59,270. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were higher by 18.1%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Support Activities for Mining held the largest number of jobs within the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction industry, employing over 248 thousand people in 2022. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $65,270, with a median wage of $51,800. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2021, with the variance shifting from 11% to 5.4%, indicating industry wages lagged national wage trends.

Oil and Gas Extraction accounted for a substantial employment share, with 102 thousand people employed in 2022. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $106,790, and the median wage was $87,990. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was a decrease compared to 2021, with the variance shifting from 75.4% to 72.5%.

The sub-group of Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 96 thousand people employed in 2022. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $57,310 and the median wage was $49,420. The wage variance to the national average experienced an increase compared to 2021, with the variance shifting from -7.4% to -7.4%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction industry, we find that General and Operations Managers had the highest annual mean wage in 2022, at $145,890, and a median wage of $123,840. The industry variance to the national average was 18.7%. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers had an annual mean wage of $89,320 and a median wage of $82,340. The industry variance to the national average was 15%. Wellhead Pumpers had an annual mean wage of $64,890 and a median wage of $63,450. The industry variance to the national average was -0.9%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction industry included Roustabouts, Oil and Gas, with an annual mean wage of $46,060 and a median wage of $44,370. The industry variance to the national average was 0.7%. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers had an annual mean wage of $50,270 and a median wage of $47,820. The industry variance to the national average was -5.3%. Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining had an annual mean wage of $51,460 and a median wage of $48,420. The industry variance to the national average was -3.8%.

Summary

The Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction industry employed over 527 thousand people in the United States in 2022, reflecting a 7.3% increase from the previous year. Wages in this industry group were higher compared to the national average by 18.1%. The Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction industry plays a crucial role in resource extraction and energy production, contributing to economic growth and development.

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