The average salary for an oil and gas rotary drill operator in Tennessee is around $58,780 per year.
Avg Salary
Oil and gas rotary drill operators earn an average yearly salary of $58,780.
Wages typically start from $44,470 and go up to $78,480.
6% 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:
$37.73 per hour
$78,480 per year
Senior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$33.32 per hour
$69,310 per year
Mid-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$28.26 per hour
$58,780 per year
Junior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$25.34 per hour
$52,700 per year
Starting level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$21.38 per hour
$44,470 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 Tennessee. On average, they make less than non-destructive testing specialists but more than sheet metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Non-Destructive testing specialist salary | $59K |
| Quality control inspector salary | $62K |
| Metal caster salary | $72K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $60K |
| Avionics technician salary | $61K |
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $59K |
| Tool and die maker salary | $61K |
| Millwright salary | $62K |
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $58K |
| Sheet metal worker salary | $59K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)