← All careers

Skilled Trades

Helpers--Extraction Workers

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$47,730

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$37k – $68k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Helpers--Extraction Workers

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Helpers--Extraction Workers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Helpers--Extraction Workers

    Entry / Junior

    $36,960

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Helpers--Extraction Workers

    Established

    $47,730

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Helpers--Extraction Workers

    Senior

    $57,875

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Observe and monitor equipment operation during the extraction process to detect any problems.
  • •Drive moving equipment to transport materials and parts to excavation sites.
  • •Unload materials, devices, and machine parts, using hand tools.
  • •Set up and adjust equipment used to excavate geological materials.
  • •Organize materials to prepare for use.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.