SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 47-2072.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $48,790 | $4,066 | $938 | $23.46 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $58,510 | $4,876 | $1,125 | $28.13 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $73,300 | $6,108 | $1,410 | $35.24 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $106,430 | $8,869 | $2,047 | $51.17 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $124,600 | $10,383 | $2,396 | $59.91 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Pile Driver Operators is $73,300, which is 44% higher. Among the 60 occupations of the field Construction and Extraction, it ranks number 8 by median pay. With 2,310 jobs, it makes up about 0.1 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($80,710) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Pile Driver Operators pay by state
The highest median pay was in Massachusetts ($120,980), Washington ($111,080) and California ($110,340). The lowest was in Georgia ($47,930), Florida ($51,830) and Tennessee ($54,830). The most jobs were in California (480), Texas (280) and Florida (270). The occupation is most concentrated in Alaska, where its share of all jobs is 40.1 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 130 | $120,980 | $112,680 | $58.16 |
| Washington | 50 | $111,080 | $117,480 | $53.40 |
| California | 480 | $110,340 | $109,410 | $53.05 |
| Pennsylvania | 90 | $93,550 | $92,480 | $44.98 |
| Alaska | 190 | $78,080 | $82,740 | $37.54 |
| Texas | 280 | $66,140 | $62,600 | $31.80 |
| Louisiana | 180 | $61,150 | $65,570 | $29.40 |
| Virginia | 150 | $59,910 | $60,680 | $28.81 |
| Tennessee | 30 | $54,830 | $54,690 | $26.36 |
| Florida | 270 | $51,830 | $58,370 | $24.92 |
| Georgia | 50 | $47,930 | $49,560 | $23.04 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers$76,170 a year
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- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$74,500 a year
- Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other$70,130 a year
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators$70,070 a year
- Tapers$68,270 a year
Common questions
How much do Pile Driver Operators earn in the United States?
The median pay was $73,300 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,790 and the highest-paid 10% more than $124,600.
How many people work as Pile Driver Operators?
About 2,310 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.