Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction Employment and Wages in 2023

In 2023, the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction industry employed over 571 thousand people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 8.3% from 2022. The annual mean wage in 2023 was $77,020, and the median wage was $61,800. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were higher by 17.6%.

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 279 thousand people in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $70,030, with a median wage of $57,010. There was an increase in wage variance to the national average compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from 5.4% to 7%, indicating industry wages outpaced national wage trends.

Oil and Gas Extraction accounted for a substantial employment share, with 109 thousand people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $109,730, and the median wage was $94,270. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was a decrease compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from 72.5% to 67.6%.

The sub-group of Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 99 thousand people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $60,260 and the median wage was $51,610. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -7.4% to -8%.

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 2023, at $157,580, and a median wage of $132,470. The industry variance to the national average was 21.8%. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers had an annual mean wage of $94,650 and a median wage of $89,620. The industry variance to the national average was 16.4%. Wellhead Pumpers had an annual mean wage of $69,800 and a median wage of $72,650. The industry variance to the national average was -0.2%.

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 $47,900 and a median wage of $46,600. The industry variance to the national average was 0.4%. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers had an annual mean wage of $53,330 and a median wage of $50,250. The industry variance to the national average was -4.8%. Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining had an annual mean wage of $54,050 and a median wage of $50,010. The industry variance to the national average was -2.6%.

Summary

In 2023, the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction industry in the U.S. employed over 571,000 people, reflecting significant growth of 8.3% from 2022. The annual mean wage was $77,020, and the median wage was $61,800, 17.6% higher than the national average. Support Activities for Mining, the largest sub-group, employed 279,000 people with a mean wage of $70,030, showing an improved wage variance compared to national trends. Oil and Gas Extraction employed 109,000 people and offered the highest mean wage of $109,730, despite a slight decline in wage competitiveness. Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying employed 99,000 people, with wages below the national average. High-paying roles, such as General and Operations Managers, earned $157,580, while First-Line Supervisors earned $94,650. Lower-wage occupations, including Roustabouts and Truck Drivers, earned mean wages between $47,900 and $53,330, with mixed wage competitiveness. Overall, the industry demonstrated robust employment growth, with wages generally exceeding national averages across key sub-groups and occupations.

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