SOC 475012

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration. Excludes "Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas" (47-5023).

National Median

$65,010

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$65,010

Entry Level (10th pct)

$42,750

Experienced (90th pct)

$98,510

Total Employed

13,090

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$42,750 - $52,600
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$52,600 - $81,550
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$81,550 - $98,510

Highest Paying Locations for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Bakersfield-Delano, CA

$101,350

+55.9% vs national

California

$99,470

+53.0% vs national

Alaska

$86,750

+33.4% vs national

New Mexico

$85,540

+31.6% vs national

Alaska nonmetropolitan area

$85,080

+30.9% vs national

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$101,350	200
California	$99,470	410
Alaska	$86,750	170
New Mexico	$85,540	650
Alaska nonmetropolitan area	$85,080	90
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$82,380	60
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area	$81,600	340
Minnesota	$79,760	50
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$79,150	1,660
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$78,220	430
Tyler, TX	$77,650	80
Alabama	$77,240	90
Farmington, NM	$76,960	60
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area	$76,940	180
Colorado	$76,290	200
Arizona	$75,540	60
Florida	$75,410	110
San Angelo, TX	$73,690	50
Oklahoma City, OK	$72,530	580
North Dakota	$69,560	280
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area	$69,560	220
Utah	$68,660	200
High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area	$68,640	150
Arkansas	$67,800	30
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area	$66,810	180
Grand Junction, CO	$66,560	50
Texas	$66,430	5,940
Oklahoma	$65,080	1,570
Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area	$64,560	560
Midland, TX	$64,550	610
Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area	$63,990	120
Tulsa, OK	$63,960	310
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area	$62,650	60
Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area	$62,560	190
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	$62,460	190
Mississippi	$62,410	190
Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area	$62,410	40
Pennsylvania	$62,350	440
Canton-Massillon, OH	$61,980	40
Ohio	$61,380	160
Louisiana	$60,930	1,140
Virginia	$59,750	N/A
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area	$59,660	240
Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area	$58,770	50
Kansas	$58,580	160
Kansas nonmetropolitan area	$58,570	140
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area	$58,080	40
West Virginia	$58,040	260
Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area	$57,480	100
Odessa, TX	$57,250	290

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas?

The national median annual salary for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas is $65,010, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gass earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gass is Bakersfield-Delano, CA, with a median salary of $101,350.

How much can an experienced Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas make?

Top-earning Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gass (90th percentile) make $98,510 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.