Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
Median $58,620
Occupation · SOC 47-5012
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas: pay and where the jobs are
What rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn in the U.S., how pay varies across workers and states, and tools to plan around it.
National pay, May 2025
$67,890 median annual wage
- Mean (average) annual wage
- $72,130
- Median hourly wage
- $32.64
- Mean hourly wage
- $34.68
- Employment
- 12,600
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 47-5012.
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See where your pay falls among rotary drill operators, oil and gas nationally and in your state. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
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How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make?
The median annual wage for rotary drill operators, oil and gas was $67,890 in May 2025, so half of workers earned more and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,010 and the highest-paid 10% more than $101,860. As an hourly rate, the median is $32.64. About 12,600 people work in this occupation nationwide. The highest state medians are in Alaska ($85,470), New Mexico ($82,780) and Colorado ($79,830). After taxes and local prices, though, a median paycheck goes furthest in New Mexico.
Pay ladder
What each step of the pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas looks like per month. Take-home here includes federal tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer; add your state in the paycheck calculator.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Monthly gross | Monthly after federal tax & FICA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,010 | $22.60 | $3,918 | $3,329 |
| 25th percentile | $53,810 | $25.87 | $4,484 | $3,785 |
| Median | $67,890 | $32.64 | $5,658 | $4,716 |
| 75th percentile | $81,360 | $39.12 | $6,780 | $5,506 |
| 90th percentile | $101,860 | $48.97 | $8,488 | $6,707 |
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas: pay by state
26 states and territories have a published median, sorted from highest to lowest. The last two columns are our estimates: the median after 2026 federal and state taxes, and that take-home restated in national-average prices.
1
$69,774 take-home in national prices
2
$68,570 take-home in national prices
3
$67,104 take-home in national prices
Where a median rotary drill operators, oil and ga paycheck goes furthest after 2026 taxes and BEA price levels.
| State | Employment | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Median after tax* | In national prices† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 130 | $85,470 | $64,540 | $115,270 | $68,687 | $67,104 |
| New Mexico | 580 | $82,780 | $48,840 | $101,860 | $64,340 | $69,774 |
| Colorado | 110 | $79,830 | $61,410 | $92,070 | $61,835 | $60,004 |
| Nebraska | 40 | $79,140 | $50,130 | $100,060 | $61,784 | $68,570 |
| Texas | 5,980 | $77,840 | $47,840 | $121,470 | $63,590 | $65,519 |
| North Dakota | 230 | $71,280 | $52,280 | $104,970 | $58,845 | $66,148 |
| Utah | Not published | $70,400 | $49,440 | $103,460 | $55,511 | $56,149 |
| Alabama | 40 | $67,400 | $44,700 | $120,610 | $53,416 | $60,137 |
| Mississippi | 130 | $67,290 | $36,170 | $98,160 | $54,209 | $62,343 |
| New York | 50 | $67,000 | $54,690 | $99,340 | $52,623 | $48,761 |
| California | 460 | $65,520 | $49,880 | $120,130 | $51,957 | $46,927 |
| Ohio | 290 | $63,600 | $46,380 | $82,860 | $51,977 | $56,026 |
| Arizona | 30 | $62,920 | $33,430 | $100,130 | $51,557 | $51,210 |
| Florida | 180 | $61,970 | $58,500 | $87,170 | $51,973 | $50,257 |
| Pennsylvania | 390 | $61,780 | $60,770 | $86,780 | $49,880 | $51,122 |
| Virginia | 110 | $61,410 | $44,320 | $72,070 | $48,806 | $48,273 |
| Wyoming | 200 | $61,000 | $38,390 | $99,930 | $51,194 | $55,230 |
| Kansas | 130 | $60,600 | $31,000 | $77,810 | $48,290 | $53,615 |
| Tennessee | 40 | $58,780 | $44,470 | $78,480 | $49,410 | $53,782 |
| North Carolina | 50 | $57,760 | $33,420 | $97,470 | $46,794 | $49,609 |
| West Virginia | 240 | $57,020 | $46,730 | $80,250 | $46,255 | $51,684 |
| Oklahoma | 1,700 | $55,160 | $48,180 | $79,910 | $44,564 | $50,732 |
| Michigan | 70 | $54,020 | $40,910 | $103,990 | $43,540 | $45,252 |
| Louisiana | 910 | $49,410 | $31,990 | $79,380 | $40,785 | $46,238 |
| Kentucky | 30 | $38,520 | $36,270 | $46,030 | $31,900 | $35,382 |
| Arkansas | 70 | $37,700 | $37,430 | $74,560 | $31,565 | $36,307 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 47-5012. *Our estimate for a single filer paid biweekly with no pre-tax deductions or local tax, 2026 federal and state rules. †Take-home ÷ BEA Regional Price Parity × 100 (2024 price levels).
Sources
- OEWS May 2025 (oesm25nat.zip) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- OEWS May 2025 (oesm25st.zip) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-09.