Oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

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

$48.04 per hour

$99,930 per year

75th percentile

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

$46.34 per hour

$96,400 per year

50th percentile

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

$29.33 per hour

$61,000 per year

25th percentile

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

$23.40 per hour

$48,670 per year

10th percentile

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

$18.46 per hour

$38,390 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 Wyoming. On average, they make less than hydroelectric plant technicians but more than wellhead pumpers.

Career Median Salary
Hydroelectric plant technician salary $67K
Pump operator salary $78K
Derrick operator salary $77K
Wind turbine services technician salary $63K
Water treatment plant operator salary $63K
Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary $61K
Welder salary $64K
Quality control inspector salary $65K
Millwright salary $63K
Wellhead pumper salary $57K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)