Average Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas is $65,010 per year. The middle 50% earn between $52,600 and $81,550, with 13,090 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 25 states and 21 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $42,750
- 25th
- $52,600
- Median
- $65,010
- 75th
- $81,550
- 90th
- $98,510
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas earn close to the national median for all US workers. Solidly middle-income.
The spread between entry-level and top-end pay is typical for US occupations. Experience and specialization matter, but the range is not unusually wide.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for rotary drill operators, oil and gas from 2024 to 2034. Growth is below the US average of roughly 4% across all occupations. The field is relatively stable but not expanding quickly.
- Projected growth
- +0.2%
- 0 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 1,200
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings reflect typical replacement demand alongside any growth.
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
There are no formal educational requirements for entry. Much of the training happens through experience on the job.
Where Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where rotary drill operators, oil and gas work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is California at $99,470, about 53.0% above the national median. At the metro level, Bakersfield-Delano, CA leads with a median of $101,350.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $99,470 | 410 |
| Alaska | $86,750 | 170 |
| New Mexico | $85,540 | 650 |
| Minnesota | $79,760 | 50 |
| Alabama | $77,240 | 90 |
| Colorado | $76,290 | 200 |
| Arizona | $75,540 | 60 |
| Florida | $75,410 | 110 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $101,350 | 200 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $82,380 | 60 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,150 | 1,660 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $78,220 | 430 |
| Tyler, TX | $77,650 | 80 |
| Farmington, NM | $76,960 | 60 |
| San Angelo, TX | $73,690 | 50 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $72,530 | 580 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas rose from $54,980 to $65,010, a gain of +18.2% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $54,980 would need to be worth $67,460 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $65,010 is −$2,450 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -3.6% in purchasing power.
Adjusted for inflation, pay has lost ground. Nominal growth of 18.2% has not kept up with rising prices.
- Nominal change
- +18.2%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- -3.6%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $54,980
- 2020
- $53,820
- 2021
- $56,380
- 2022
- $55,260
- 2023
- $61,770
- 2024
- $65,010
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Derrick Operators, Oil And Gas
- $62,740
- Roof Bolters, Mining
- $76,640
Common salary questions for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.