Drilling Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Drilling Assistant make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Drilling Assistant in the United States is $74,261 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Drilling Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,232
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,284 to $81,051
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,379
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View as table View as graph 25% $62,284 10% $51,379 90% $87,232 75% $81,051 $74,261 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Drilling Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $81,051 $6,754 $1,559 $39
Average $74,261 $6,188 $1,428 $36
25th Percentile $62,284 $5,190 $1,198 $30
Check out Drilling Assistant Job Openings in the United States
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Tetra Tech - Richfield, OH

Drilling Assistant

Crucial Link Group - Rittman, OH

Horizontal Directional Drilling Locator

STG Fiber Services Career Opportunities - Youngstown, OH

Horizontal Directional Drilling Locator

Blue Jay Communications Inc. - Cleveland, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Drilling Assistant Salaries

A Drilling Assistant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Drilling Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Drilling Assistant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $74,760
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,756
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $78,684
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $78,947
  • Expert (over 8 years): $79,385
Levels Salary
Entry Level Drilling Assistant$74,760
Intermediate Level Drilling Assistant$76,756
Senior Level Drilling Assistant$78,684
Specialist Level Drilling Assistant$78,947
Expert Level Drilling Assistant$79,385
$74,760 0 yr
$76,756 < 2 yrs
$78,684 2-4 yrs
$78,947 5-8 yrs
$79,385 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Drilling Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Drilling Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $82,222.
  • California: $81,910.
  • Massachusetts: $80,818.

Top Paying Cities for Drilling Assistants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $93,665
  • San Francisco: $92,640
  • Oakland: $90,688

What Skills Can Increase a Drilling Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 8.76% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Preventative Maintenance (Mentioned in 5.76% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
  • Equipment Operation (Mentioned in 2.54% Job Postings): This is skilled and unskilled work in the operation of mechanical tools and light to heavy equipment used in maintenance and construction or on the grounds of state properties or facilities and routine maintenance of that equipment.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 8.76%
Preventative Maintenance 5.76%
Equipment Operation 2.54%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Drilling Assistant's salary.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Program Management
$81,687
10%
Project Management
$77,974
5%
Consulting
$76,489
3%
Alignment
$76,489
3%
CPT
$76,489
3%
Safety Training
$76,489
3%
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How Education impacts a Drilling Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Drilling Assistants enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Drilling Assistant with a No Diploma is between $67,575 and $73,788).

Drilling Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Drilling Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.6%
High School 66.7%
Associates 5.6%
Bachelors 5.6%
Masters 16.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Drilling Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Drilling Assistant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Drilling Assistant

Salaries for a Drilling Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $75,354 in 2023 to around $74,503 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Drilling Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Drilling Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$75,354
2024
$75,025
2025
$74,503
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $75,354
2024 $75,025
2025 $74,503
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Drilling Assistant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Drilling Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Drilling Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Drilling Assistant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Drilling Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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