Oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$57.99 per hour

$120,610 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$44.14 per hour

$91,810 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$32.41 per hour

$67,400 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$24.42 per hour

$50,790 per year

10th percentile

Starting level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$21.49 per hour

$44,700 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 about the same as related careers in Alabama. On average, they make less than elevator mechanics but more than pump operators.

Career Median Salary
Elevator mechanic salary $104K
Occupational health specialist salary $82K
Avionics technician salary $96K
Aircraft mechanic salary $82K
Non-Destructive testing specialist salary $75K
Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary $67K
Petroleum pump system operator salary $74K
Industrial designer salary $64K
Industrial machinery mechanic salary $62K
Pump operator salary $67K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)