Oil and gas rotary drill operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

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

$61.61 per hour

$128,140 per year

75th percentile

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

$26.98 per hour

$56,110 per year

50th percentile

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

$22.34 per hour

$46,460 per year

25th percentile

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

$18.34 per hour

$38,140 per year

10th percentile

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

$15.51 per hour

$32,270 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 Montana. On average, they make less than power plant operators but more than boilermakers.

Career Median Salary
Power plant operator salary $79K
Aviation inspector salary $51K
Logistician salary $61K
Petroleum pump system operator salary $63K
Occupational health specialist salary $59K
Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary $46K
Industrial designer salary $51K
Non-Destructive testing specialist salary $62K
Hydroelectric plant technician salary $60K
Boilermaker salary $66K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)