Average Salary for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
SOC 47-5012 · Construction and Extraction Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in the United States is $65,010 ($31.26/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $42,750 at the 10th percentile to $98,510 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 13,090 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 22.3% since 2014.
Median Annual
$65,010
Mean Annual
$70,080
10th Pct
$42,750
75th Pct
$81,550
Employment
13,090
Salary Distribution
$43k
10th
$53k
25th
$65k
Median
$82k
75th
$99k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $101,350 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $82,380 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,150 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $78,220 |
| Tyler, TX | $77,650 |
| Farmington, NM | $76,960 |
| San Angelo, TX | $73,690 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $72,530 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $66,560 |
| Midland, TX | $64,550 |
| Tulsa, OK | $63,960 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $62,460 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $61,980 |
| Odessa, TX | $57,250 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $57,240 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| California | $99,470 |
| Alaska | $86,750 |
| New Mexico | $85,540 |
| Minnesota | $79,760 |
| Alabama | $77,240 |
| Colorado | $76,290 |
| Arizona | $75,540 |
| Florida | $75,410 |
| North Dakota | $69,560 |
| Utah | $68,660 |
| Arkansas | $67,800 |
| Texas | $66,430 |
| Oklahoma | $65,080 |
| Mississippi | $62,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,350 |
| Ohio | $61,380 |
| Louisiana | $60,930 |
| Virginia | $59,750 |
| Kansas | $58,580 |
| West Virginia | $58,040 |
| Wyoming | $56,600 |
| Michigan | $54,070 |
| South Carolina | $50,850 |
| North Carolina | $43,950 |
| Kentucky | $42,000 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $97,710 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $79,880 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $79,760 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $79,690 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | $79,690 |
| Pipeline Transportation | $79,690 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $75,940 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $75,940 |
| Engineering Services | $71,990 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $66,190 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $66,190 |
| Temporary Help Services | $66,190 |
| Employment Services | $66,190 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $65,210 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $65,010 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $64,070 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $63,450 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $63,450 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $63,140 |
| Construction | $59,840 |
| Manufacturing | $59,780 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $59,560 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $59,560 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $58,770 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $58,180 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $58,180 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $48,190 |
| Utility System Construction | $45,610 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $45,610 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $65,010 |
| 2023 | $61,770 |
| 2022 | $55,260 |
| 2021 | $56,380 |
| 2020 | $53,820 |
| 2019 | $54,980 |
| 2018 | $53,800 |
| 2017 | $53,980 |
| 2016 | $54,430 |
| 2015 | $54,310 |
| 2014 | $53,160 |