The average salary for an oil and gas rotary drill operator in North Carolina is around $57,760 per year.
Avg Salary
Oil and gas rotary drill operators earn an average yearly salary of $57,760.
Wages typically start from $33,420 and go up to $97,470.
16% 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:
$46.86 per hour
$97,470 per year
Senior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$29.32 per hour
$60,990 per year
Mid-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$27.77 per hour
$57,760 per year
Junior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$17.64 per hour
$36,680 per year
Starting level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$16.07 per hour
$33,420 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 North Carolina. On average, they make less than tool and die makers but more than auto body repairers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Tool and die maker salary | $61K |
| Boilermaker salary | $50K |
| Mining machine operator salary | $59K |
| Gem worker salary | $55K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $55K |
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $58K |
| Rigger salary | $57K |
| Farm equipment mechanic salary | $51K |
| Quarry rock splitter salary | $56K |
| Auto body repairer salary | $51K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)