The average salary for an oil and gas rotary drill operator in Kentucky is around $38,520 per year.
Avg Salary
Oil and gas rotary drill operators earn an average yearly salary of $38,520.
Wages typically start from $36,270 and go up to $46,030.
37% 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:
$22.13 per hour
$46,030 per year
Senior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$20.52 per hour
$42,670 per year
Mid-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$18.52 per hour
$38,520 per year
Junior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$17.82 per hour
$37,060 per year
Starting level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$17.44 per hour
$36,270 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 Kentucky. On average, they make less than machine feeders but more than sewing machine operators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Machine feeder salary | $42K |
| Quarry rock splitter salary | $44K |
| Log grader salary | $45K |
| Avionics technician salary | $42K |
| Machine assembler salary | $42K |
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $39K |
| Molding and casting worker salary | $42K |
| Sewing machine operator salary | $29K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)