Oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

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

$58.40 per hour

$121,470 per year

75th percentile

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

$41.65 per hour

$86,630 per year

50th percentile

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

$37.43 per hour

$77,840 per year

25th percentile

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

$29.21 per hour

$60,770 per year

10th percentile

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

$23.00 per hour

$47,840 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 Texas. On average, they make less than aircraft mechanics but more than radio mechanics.

Career Median Salary
Aircraft mechanic salary $84K
Occupational health specialist salary $80K
Petroleum pump system operator salary $84K
Avionics technician salary $82K
Logistician salary $75K
Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary $78K
Boilermaker salary $76K
Non-Destructive testing specialist salary $74K
Wellhead pumper salary $76K
Radio mechanic salary $78K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)