Oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

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

$61.61 per hour

$128,140 per year

75th percentile

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

$26.98 per hour

$56,110 per year

50th percentile

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

$22.34 per hour

$46,460 per year

25th percentile

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

$18.34 per hour

$38,140 per year

10th percentile

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

$15.51 per hour

$32,270 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 Montana. On average, they make less than power plant operators but more than boilermakers.

Career Median Salary
Power plant operator salary $79K
Aviation inspector salary $51K
Logistician salary $61K
Petroleum pump system operator salary $63K
Occupational health specialist salary $59K
Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary $46K
Industrial designer salary $51K
Non-Destructive testing specialist salary $62K
Hydroelectric plant technician salary $60K
Boilermaker salary $66K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)