Licensed supply, credential mix, wages and demand outlook for well drillers in Santa Barbara County, CA, updated nightly from the state register and BLS.
Santa Barbara County, CA carries 15 licensed well drillers and a median wage of $48,880/yr ($23.50/hr).
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This county sits at the 45th percentile nationally for well drillers pay, below the median US county. Average weekly wages across the county's construction trades rose 2.5% year over year (BLS QCEW).
Counties within 150 miles whose published median for this occupation is higher than Santa Barbara County's. Medians from the same BLS OEWS series shown above, not offers, and pay is only one reason to move.
| County | Median | Difference | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventura County, CA | $71,280 | +$22,400 | 53 mi |
| Kern County, CA | $52,640 | +$3,760 | 93 mi |
Active, licensed firms and master-tier individuals on the CA register.
| Name | Tier |
|---|---|
| Acosta Well Drilling | Contractor |
| Alexander Pump Service Inc | Contractor |
| All West Drilling | Contractor |
| Brand X Water Well Service | Contractor |
| Cascade Well & Pump Co | Contractor |
| D & D Pumps | Contractor |
| Fisher Pump And Well Service | Contractor |
| John S Carter Incorporated | Contractor |
| Kenai Drilling Limited | Contractor |
| M & W Pumps Inc | Contractor |
Employment from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages for the industry this trade sits in; payroll from the Census County Business Patterns. Establishment counts are QCEW where the county is disclosed and an ATI estimate otherwise.
| Measure | Value | What it counts |
|---|---|---|
| Employer establishments | 17 | Physical business locations in this industry. |
| Industry employment | 248 | Everyone on those payrolls, not only licensed trades. |
| Annual industry payroll | $23M | Total wages paid across those establishments (Census CBP, 2023). |
County-wide construction activity, across all trades rather than well drillers specifically. Each figure names its source and the period it covers.
| Measure | Value | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| New housing units permitted | 1,371 | Last full year, county-wide. 31 per 10,000 residents. Permits lead construction hiring by months, so this is the earliest honest signal of work arriving (Census Building Permits Survey). |
| Construction employment | 6,923 | Everyone working in construction in this county, all trades and office staff. Average pay $1,295 per week. BLS QCEW. |
| Median year homes were built | 1974 | Older stock means more repair, replacement and retrofit work, which is steadier than new build and does not stop in a downturn (Census ACS). |
| Net migration | -2,447 | People who moved in minus people who moved out, from IRS address changes. Arrivals need housing, wiring, plumbing and heat. |
0.3 licensed well drillers per 10,000 residents. A thin pipeline against an ageing licensed base is how a shortage forms years before it shows up in wages.
License register: 2026-09-17; Wages: 2025-05-31; Demand: 2026-09-17; Apprenticeship: 2025-12-31.
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