Helpers--Extraction Workers

Median salary

$47,730

Average salary

$50,620

Employment

6,700

Projected growth

1.7% decline

Annual openings

700

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

What Helpers--Extraction Workers Do

Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying equipment or cleaning work area.

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: 3.3%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 2 of 5

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Experience: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Job training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Mechanicalimportance 4.0/5
English Languageimportance 3.5/5
Transportationimportance 3.3/5
Mathematicsimportance 3.0/5
Administration and Managementimportance 2.9/5
Public Safety and Securityimportance 2.9/5
Education and Trainingimportance 2.9/5
Production and Processingimportance 2.8/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment4.9/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.8/5
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.8/5
Exposed to Contaminants4.7/5
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions4.7/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Roustabouts, Oil and Gas96% skill match
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators95% skill match
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators95% skill match
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics95% skill match
Printing Press Operators95% skill match
Pile Driver Operators95% skill match
Agricultural Equipment Operators94% skill match
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders94% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Operations Monitoringimportance 3.6/5
Operation and Controlimportance 3.5/5
Equipment Maintenanceimportance 3.5/5
Troubleshootingimportance 3.4/5
Repairingimportance 3.4/5
Coordinationimportance 3.1/5
Equipment Selectionimportance 3.1/5
Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.1/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Dependability
Cautiousness
Attention to Detail
Stress Tolerance
Self-Control
Integrity
Cooperation

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

RealisticHigh
ConventionalMedium
InvestigativeLow
SocialLow
EnterprisingLow
ArtisticLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where helpers--extraction workers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).