The average salary for an oil and gas rotary drill operator in California is around $65,520 per year.
Avg Salary
Oil and gas rotary drill operators earn an average yearly salary of $65,520.
Wages typically start from $49,880 and go up to $120,130.
2% below 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:
$57.75 per hour
$120,130 per year
Senior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$49.16 per hour
$102,240 per year
Mid-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$31.50 per hour
$65,520 per year
Junior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$28.55 per hour
$59,380 per year
Starting level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$23.98 per hour
$49,880 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 California. On average, they make less than wind turbine services technicians but more than glaziers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind turbine services technician salary | $78K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $86K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $77K |
| Millwright salary | $78K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $78K |
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $66K |
| Quality control inspector salary | $78K |
| Industrial machinery mechanic salary | $74K |
| Tool and die maker salary | $77K |
| Glazier salary | $64K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)