The average salary for an oil and gas rotary drill operator in the United States is around $67,890 per year.
Avg Salary
Oil and gas rotary drill operators earn an average yearly salary of $67,890.
Wages typically start from $47,010 and go up to $101,860.
3% above national average Updated in 2025
Oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings by seniority
Top-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$48.97 per hour
$101,860 per year
Senior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$39.12 per hour
$81,360 per year
Mid-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$32.64 per hour
$67,890 per year
Junior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$25.87 per hour
$53,810 per year
Starting level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$22.60 per hour
$47,010 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $85,470 |
| New Mexico | $82,780 |
| Colorado | $79,830 |
| Nebraska | $79,140 |
| Texas | $77,840 |
| Indiana | $71,540 |
| North Dakota | $71,280 |
| Utah | $70,400 |
| Alabama | $67,400 |
| Mississippi | $67,290 |
| New York | $67,000 |
| California | $65,520 |
| Ohio | $63,600 |
| Arizona | $62,920 |
| Florida | $61,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,780 |
| Virginia | $61,410 |
| Wyoming | $61,000 |
| Kansas | $60,600 |
| Tennessee | $58,780 |
| North Carolina | $57,760 |
| West Virginia | $57,020 |
| Minnesota | $56,660 |
| Oklahoma | $55,160 |
| Maryland | $55,060 |
| Michigan | $54,020 |
| Louisiana | $49,410 |
| Montana | $46,460 |
| Illinois | $44,210 |
| Kentucky | $38,520 |
| Arkansas | $37,700 |
| Georgia | $31,440 |
How do oil and gas rotary drill operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Oil and gas rotary drill operators earn 6% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than commercial divers but more than wind turbine services technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Commercial diver salary | $73K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $80K |
| Avionics technician salary | $82K |
| Non-Destructive testing specialist salary | $78K |
| Boilermaker salary | $76K |
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $68K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $70K |
| Radio mechanic salary | $64K |
| Millwright salary | $66K |
| Wind turbine services technician salary | $64K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)