Construction and Extraction · Holland code RC

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.

Also called: Driller Helper, Driller's Assistant, Miner Helper, Powderman, Continuous Miner Operator Helper, Longwall Machine Operator Helper, Salt Miner.

O*NET 47-5081.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $47,730; Middle half earn $41,430 to $57,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED); 97% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 2 of 5; Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

Provide assistance to extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers and derrick operators.
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.
Repair and maintain automotive and drilling equipment, using hand tools.
Collect and examine geological matter, using hand tools and testing devices.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Monitoring3.8 / 5
Critical Thinking3.1 / 5
Active Listening3.0 / 5
Speaking2.9 / 5
Active Learning2.9 / 5
Reading Comprehension2.8 / 5

Knowledge areas

Mechanical4.0 / 5
English Language3.5 / 5
Transportation3.3 / 5
Mathematics3.0 / 5
Administration and Management2.9 / 5
Public Safety and Security2.9 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic100
Investigative19
Artistic0
Social13
Enterprising10
Conventional45

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

mud logger · DE Analytiker Bohrspülung/Analytikerin Bohrspülung · FR technicien des boues/technicienne des boues
driller · DE Bohranlagenbediener/Bohranlagenbedienerin · FR foreur de roche/foreuse de roche
underground miner · DE Untertagearbeiter/Untertagearbeiterin · FR mineur de fond/mineuse de fond
stone driller · DE Steinbohrer/Steinbohrerin · FR débiteur de pierre/débitrice de pierre
derrickhand · DE Bühnenmann/Bühnenfrau · FR accrocheur/accrocheuse
oil rig motorhand · DE Maschinenführer auf Ölbohrinseln/Maschinenführerin auf Ölbohrinseln · FR motoriste en installation de forage

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Mining and quarry workers and related operatives (8132)9,200 employed
Physical scientists (2114)31,600 employed
Construction operatives n.e.c. (8159)85,400 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Plant and machine operators and assemblers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Plant and machine operators and assemblers, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€39,630
Netherlands	€37,567
Austria	€37,304
Sweden	€36,005
Germany	€34,433
Ireland	€32,617
France	€28,550
Italy	€28,330
Spain	€24,409
Portugal	€11,309
Poland	€10,259

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Exposure to AI

This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -1.54. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.

Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.

Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (47-5081).

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

Take the career interests test