The average salary for a derrick operator in North Dakota is around $71,850 per year.
Avg Salary
Derrick operators earn an average yearly salary of $71,850.
Wages typically start from $63,380 and go up to $80,040.
6% above national average Updated in 2025
Derrick operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$38.48 per hour
$80,040 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$36.90 per hour
$76,760 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$34.55 per hour
$71,850 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$32.87 per hour
$68,360 per year
10th percentile
Starting level derrick operator earnings begin at:
$30.47 per hour
$63,380 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Derrick operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $86,980 |
| Alaska | $78,050 |
| Wyoming | $76,750 |
| North Dakota | $71,850 |
| Florida | $64,950 |
| Colorado | $64,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,720 |
| New Mexico | $59,570 |
| Oklahoma | $58,270 |
| Utah | $56,980 |
| Texas | $56,100 |
| California | $55,480 |
| Ohio | $50,650 |
| West Virginia | $50,640 |
| Arkansas | $50,070 |
| Alabama | $49,350 |
| Montana | $48,110 |
| Mississippi | $47,340 |
| Illinois | $45,900 |
| Michigan | $45,180 |
| Kansas | $39,290 |
How do derrick operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Derrick operators earn 8% less than similar careers in North Dakota. On average, they make less than aviation inspectors but more than millwrights.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Aviation inspector salary | $106K |
| Rigger salary | $78K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $80K |
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $71K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $78K |
| Derrick operator salary | $72K |
| Wind turbine services technician salary | $67K |
| Industrial machinery mechanic salary | $66K |
| Farm equipment mechanic salary | $63K |
| Millwright salary | $61K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)