Construction & extraction · SOC 47-5012
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
BLS projects 12,700 jobs in 2025 to become 12,900 by 2035 — +0.8%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
+0.8%
projected change to 2035
About 100 more jobs
1,100
openings a year
8.7% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$67,890
median annual pay
Usually entered with: no formal educational credential
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment12,700
- 2035 projected12,900
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other construction & extraction occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Construction laborers1,489,300+7.3%
- First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers913,300+5.0%
- Carpenters889,700+3.9%
- Electricians821,000+9.2%
- Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters510,600+6.8%
- Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators489,500+4.6%
- Painters, construction and maintenance326,900+3.0%
- Cement masons and concrete finishers204,800+1.6%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.