Occupation · SOC 47-5081
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 wage
$48,400
$35,770–$68,240
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
6,720
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
2 mapped
Core skills
MonitoringOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairingQuality Control AnalysisEquipment SelectionCritical ThinkingCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionTime ManagementLearning StrategiesMathematicsManagement of Personnel ResourcesWritingService OrientationInstructingSystems AnalysisPersuasionNegotiationManagement of Material ResourcesSystems EvaluationTechnology DesignManagement of Financial ResourcesScienceInstallationProgrammingOperations Analysis
Knowledge areas
MechanicalEnglish LanguageTransportationMathematicsPublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and ManagementEducation and TrainingProduction and ProcessingCustomer and Personal ServiceEngineering and TechnologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesPhysicsChemistryBuilding and ConstructionLaw and GovernmentSales and MarketingEconomics and AccountingAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsDesignTelecommunicationsGeographyCommunications and MediaMedicine and DentistryBiologyPsychologyForeign LanguageFood ProductionSociology and AnthropologyTherapy and CounselingHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareGoogle DocsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Word
Representative tasks
Handling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsGetting InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationCoaching and Developing OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsProcessing InformationAssisting and Caring for OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationAnalyzing Data or InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping and Building TeamsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesTraining and Teaching OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersThinking CreativelyEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsScheduling Work and ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentSelling or Influencing OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsPerforming for or Working Directly with the Public
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Extraction equipment operation — observe and report irregularities under direct supervisor guidance at an active excavation site.Hand tools and basic lifting aids — unload materials, devices, and machine parts under close supervision on a job site staging area.Work area debris and waste — remove and dispose of following post-extraction cleanup protocols at a surface mining site.Excavation site surface — clean and prepare ground areas for boring or digging activities under direct instruction from a lead worker.Organized material staging areas — sort and arrange supplies and parts to support scheduled extraction tasks at a mining operation.Moving transport vehicles — drive on designated haul roads to deliver materials and parts to excavation zones under supervision.Hand tool safety procedures — follow established protocols when handling wrenches, hammers, and other basic tools on a drilling site.Site hazard recognition — identify common extraction-area dangers and report observations to a crew supervisor during daily walkthroughs.Verbal and written work instructions — listen actively and confirm understanding of assigned tasks before beginning work on a mining crew.Personal protective equipment — select and don required gear correctly prior to entering any active extraction or excavation work zone.
developing
Drilling and excavation equipment setup — configure and adjust machinery according to job specifications with minimal oversight at a field extraction site.Automotive and drilling equipment — perform routine hand-tool repairs and scheduled maintenance to sustain uptime during active extraction operations.Equipment performance monitoring — track operational indicators during extraction cycles and flag developing issues to the crew supervisor in a timely manner.Material transport routes — drive loaded haul vehicles safely and efficiently across site roads, adapting to changing ground conditions at an open-pit operation.Unloading and rigging tasks — apply correct hand-tool techniques to handle heavy machine components without damage during equipment delivery at a drilling site.Post-extraction site cleanup — coordinate debris removal and area restoration tasks with fellow crew members to meet safety and environmental standards.Equipment faults and wear — troubleshoot recurring mechanical problems on boring and extraction machinery using basic diagnostic procedures in the field.Material inventory organization — track parts and supply quantities using spreadsheet software to support uninterrupted extraction workflow at a mining facility.Excavation site preparation quality — inspect cleared areas against job requirements and identify deficiencies before boring or drilling activities begin.Crew coordination during operations — communicate task status and equipment conditions clearly to adjacent workers to maintain safe and efficient extraction cycles.
proficient
Full-cycle equipment monitoring — autonomously observe, interpret, and respond to mechanical anomalies across all extraction phases at a multi-unit mining operation.Complex equipment setup and calibration — set up, adjust, and validate drilling and excavation machinery to precise operational tolerances without supervisory input.Non-routine mechanical repairs — diagnose and resolve uncommon faults on automotive and drilling equipment using advanced hand-tool techniques during live site operations.Site preparation quality control — evaluate excavation and boring readiness across multiple zones against technical specifications, identifying and correcting substandard conditions.Critical equipment selection — assess operational requirements and select appropriate machinery and tooling for varied geological conditions encountered in the field.Transportation and logistics coordination — plan and manage material delivery sequencing to excavation sites to minimize downtime across concurrent extraction tasks.Incident analysis and troubleshooting — apply systematic critical thinking to trace root causes of equipment failures and recommend corrective actions to site management.ERP and office software use — enter work orders, maintenance records, and material consumption data accurately into enterprise systems to support site reporting requirements.Mentoring junior helpers — guide emerging crew members through equipment operation, cleanup, and safety protocols during daily extraction activities at a mining site.Environmental compliance during cleanup — ensure post-extraction debris removal and site restoration meet regulatory and company environmental standards across assigned work areas.
advanced
Extraction operations strategy — set site-wide priorities for equipment deployment, crew assignments, and material staging to optimize production across an entire mining operation.Maintenance program development — design and implement preventive maintenance schedules for drilling and automotive equipment fleets to reduce unplanned downtime at the organizational level.Safety culture leadership — establish and champion site-wide hazard identification and risk-mitigation practices that elevate compliance standards across all extraction crews.Workforce competency development — create structured on-the-job training programs that advance helpers from emerging to proficient performance across extraction, transport, and maintenance tasks.Equipment selection policy — evaluate and recommend capital equipment acquisitions based on operational needs, geological data, and cost analysis for senior management review.Quality assurance oversight — lead systematic quality control analysis of site preparation, excavation, and cleanup outcomes to drive continuous improvement across multiple project sites.Cross-functional coordination — collaborate with engineering, environmental, and logistics teams to align extraction schedules and site preparation activities with broader project objectives.Regulatory and compliance leadership — interpret and apply mining safety and environmental regulations, ensuring all site activities meet legal standards and represent best industry practice.Operational reporting and data governance — oversee accurate capture and review of production, maintenance, and incident data in ERP and office software systems for organizational decision-making.Crisis response and decision-making — lead rapid, informed responses to major equipment failures, site incidents, or geological hazards, exercising sound judgment to protect crew safety and minimize operational impact.
Also known as
59 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Blaster HelperBlasting HelperBoring Machine Operator HelperBottom Hole Pressure Recording Operator HelperChurn Driller HelperClean Out Driller HelperClean-Out Driller HelperCoal LoaderContinuous Miner Operator HelperCore Drill Operator HelperCore Driller HelperCutter Operator HelperCutting Machine Operator HelperDerrick HandDerrick HelperDerrickman HelperDrill HelperDriller HelperDriller's AssistantDrilling AssistantExtraction Tech (Extraction Technician)Gravity Prospecting Observer HelperHammerer HelperHorizontal Earth Boring Machine Operator HelperJack SetterJoy Operator HelperLoading Machine Operator HelperLongwall Machine Operator HelperMachine HelperMine and Quarry MinerMine LaborerMine Milling WorkerMine Tailings WorkerMiner AssistantMiner HelperMining HelperOre DiggerPowder CarrierPowdermanPumper Helper