Helpers--Extraction Workers
Construction and Extraction
The day is spent supporting earth drillers, blasters, derrick operators, and mining-machine operators. That means driving equipment to move materials and parts to excavation sites, unloading them with hand tools, organizing what will be used next, and setting up or adjusting gear that digs or bores. Helpers also watch machines during extraction to catch problems, do basic repair and upkeep on automotive and drilling equipment, and clean sites before and after the work. The work is outdoors at excavation and mining sites and involves lifting, driving, and staying near running machinery. It suits people who like practical, physical teamwork and keeping tools and work areas in order.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$47'730
Median Wage Market Position
$47'730
What you might do
- Watch extraction equipment for signs of trouble
- Drive materials and parts to excavation sites
- Set up and adjust excavation equipment
- Unload materials and machine parts
- Repair automotive and drilling equipment
- Clean sites after extraction work ends
Skills that matter
- Equipment watch during extraction
- Material hauls to excavation sites
- Setup and adjustment of digging gear
- Hand-tool repair of drills and vehicles
- Material staging for craft workers
- Site cleanup after extraction work
AI & the future of this role
Support around drilling and mining often means fetching gear, clearing sites, and covering less skilled chores. Some repeatable helper tasks could be streamlined by machines, while on-site presence for safety and logistics still tends to count.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details