The average salary for an oil and gas rotary drill operator in the United States is around $54,980 per year.
Avg Salary
Oil and gas rotary drill operators earn an average yearly salary of $54,980.
Wages typically start from $32,670 and go up to $83,570.
14% below national average Updated in 2019
Oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings by seniority
Top-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$40.18 per hour
$83,570 per year
Senior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$33.40 per hour
$69,480 per year
Mid-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$26.43 per hour
$54,980 per year
Junior-level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$20.42 per hour
$42,470 per year
Starting level oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$15.71 per hour
$32,670 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $83,660 |
| Alaska | $72,340 |
| Indiana | $71,540 |
| North Dakota | $64,350 |
| California | $62,950 |
| Wyoming | $60,370 |
| Utah | $58,180 |
| Minnesota | $56,660 |
| Maryland | $55,060 |
| Texas | $54,440 |
| West Virginia | $54,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,310 |
| Virginia | $52,400 |
| Oklahoma | $52,100 |
| New York | $50,350 |
| Colorado | $50,180 |
| Louisiana | $48,940 |
| Kansas | $48,129 |
| Montana | $46,460 |
| Ohio | $45,320 |
| Arizona | $45,000 |
| Illinois | $44,210 |
| Arkansas | $43,400 |
| Florida | $41,030 |
| Alabama | $38,340 |
| Michigan | $38,190 |
| New Mexico | $37,940 |
| 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 the United States. On average, they make less than wellhead pumpers but more than riggers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Wellhead pumper salary | $55K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $58K |
| Avionics technician salary | $54K |
| Tool and die maker salary | $54K |
| Industrial machinery mechanic salary | $54K |
| Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary | $55K |
| Millwright salary | $56K |
| Wind turbine services technician salary | $53K |
| Mining machine operator salary | $55K |
| Rigger salary | $51K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)