Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas earn a median $67,890 a year nationally. Construction and Extraction Occupations
What rotary drill operators, oil and gas do
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.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.8% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 1,100
Employment of rotary drill operators, oil and gas is projected to grow 0.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,106
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,209
- Medicare (1.45%)$984
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$56,591
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,010 | $22.60 | $39,953 |
| 25th percentile | $53,810 | $25.87 | $45,416 |
| Median (50th) | $67,890 | $32.64 | $56,591 |
| 75th percentile | $81,360 | $39.12 | $66,067 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,860 | $48.97 | $80,489 |
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $85,470 | −1.5% | $68,958 | $64,540 – $115,270 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $82,780 | −3.2% | $64,340 | $48,840 – $101,860 | 580 |
| Colorado | $79,830 | +4.6% | $62,186 | $61,410 – $92,070 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $79,140 | — | $61,784 | $50,130 – $100,060 | 40 |
| Texas | $77,840 | +17.2% | $63,590 | $47,840 – $121,470 | 5,980 |
| North Dakota | $71,280 | +2.5% | $58,845 | $52,280 – $104,970 | 230 |
| Utah | $70,400 | +2.5% | $56,154 | $49,440 – $103,460 | — |
| Alabama | $67,400 | −12.7% | $53,141 | $44,700 – $120,610 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $67,290 | +7.8% | $54,209 | $36,170 – $98,160 | 130 |
| New York | $67,000 | — | $52,944 | $54,690 – $99,340 | 50 |
| California | $65,520 | −34.1% | $51,944 | $49,880 – $120,130 | 460 |
| Ohio | $63,600 | +3.6% | $52,316 | $46,380 – $82,860 | 290 |
| Arizona | $62,920 | −16.7% | $51,372 | $33,430 – $100,130 | 30 |
| Florida | $61,970 | −17.8% | $51,973 | $58,500 – $87,170 | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,780 | −0.9% | $49,924 | $60,770 – $86,780 | 390 |
| Virginia | $61,410 | +2.8% | $48,806 | $44,320 – $72,070 | 110 |
| Wyoming | $61,000 | +7.8% | $51,194 | $38,390 – $99,930 | 200 |
| Kansas | $60,600 | +3.4% | $48,290 | $31,000 – $77,810 | 130 |
| Tennessee | $58,780 | — | $49,410 | $44,470 – $78,480 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $57,760 | +31.4% | $46,794 | $33,420 – $97,470 | 50 |
| West Virginia | $57,020 | −1.8% | $46,163 | $46,730 – $80,250 | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $55,160 | −15.2% | $44,564 | $48,180 – $79,910 | 1,700 |
| Michigan | $54,020 | −0.1% | $43,540 | $40,910 – $103,990 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $49,410 | −18.9% | $40,785 | $31,990 – $79,380 | 910 |
| Kentucky | $38,520 | −8.3% | $31,900 | $36,270 – $46,030 | 30 |
| Arkansas | $37,700 | −44.4% | $31,214 | $37,430 – $74,560 | 70 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,620 | No formal educational credential | +1.6% |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,160 | No formal educational credential | +1.1% |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $70,130 | No formal educational credential | -1.0% |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $61,810 | No formal educational credential | +3.2% |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $61,390 | High school diploma or equivalent | 0.0% |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,500 | No formal educational credential | -15.8% |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $60,190 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.6% |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $57,430 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.0% |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,540 | High school diploma or equivalent | -18.9% |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $57,010 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.4% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a rotary drill operators, oil and gas make?
The national median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas is $67,890 a year ($32.64 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,010 and the top 10% earn over $101,860. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays rotary drill operators, oil and gas the most?
Alaska has the highest median pay at $85,470.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas are there in the U.S.?
About 12,600 people work as rotary drill operators, oil and gas nationwide.