Oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

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

$39.72 per hour

$82,620 per year

75th percentile

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

$30.31 per hour

$63,040 per year

50th percentile

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

$23.53 per hour

$48,940 per year

25th percentile

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

$17.96 per hour

$37,350 per year

10th percentile

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

$14.29 per hour

$29,710 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 Louisiana. On average, they make less than non-destructive testing specialists but more than machinists.

Career Median Salary
Non-Destructive testing specialist salary $55K
Millwright salary $58K
Industrial machinery mechanic salary $53K
Hydroelectric plant technician salary $52K
Welder salary $51K
Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary $49K
Avionics technician salary $55K
Pump operator salary $48K
Drill press operator salary $40K
Machinist salary $48K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)