Carpenters vs Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas: Similar Median Pay, Different Work

Carpenters vs Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas: what changes?

Consider Carpenters if you want to construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood…. Consider Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas if you would rather operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of…. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Carpenters and Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Carpenters

National median pay (2025): $60,580
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 62,800

Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Carpenters brief

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

National median pay (2025): $60,190
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,400

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas brief

How the national numbers differ

Carpenters has the edge on annual openings

Carpenters is at 62,800 annual openings, compared with 1,400 annual openings for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas.

Carpenters has the edge on projected growth

Carpenters is at 3.9% projected growth, compared with 3.6% projected growth for Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.

69.4/ 100

Carpenters

48.5/ 100

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence