Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for rotary drill operators, oil and gas is $67,890, or $32.64 per hour. About 12,600 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $85,470 in Alaska to $37,700 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 26 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $85,470 | $41.09 | 130 | 4.76 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $82,780 | $39.80 | 580 | 8.23 |
| 3 | Colorado | $79,830 | $38.38 | 110 | 0.49 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $79,140 | $38.05 | 40 | 0.46 |
| 5 | Texas | $77,840 | $37.43 | 5,980 | 5.25 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $71,280 | $34.27 | 230 | 6.69 |
| 7 | Utah | $70,400 | $33.85 | — | — |
| 8 | Alabama | $67,400 | $32.41 | 40 | 0.23 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $67,290 | $32.35 | 130 | 1.39 |
| 10 | New York | $67,000 | $32.21 | 50 | 0.06 |
| 11 | California | $65,520 | $31.50 | 460 | 0.31 |
| 12 | Ohio | $63,600 | $30.58 | 290 | 0.64 |
| 13 | Arizona | $62,920 | $30.25 | 30 | 0.13 |
| 14 | Florida | $61,970 | $29.79 | 180 | 0.22 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $61,780 | $29.70 | 390 | 0.80 |
| 16 | Virginia | $61,410 | $29.52 | 110 | 0.32 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $61,000 | $29.33 | 200 | 8.76 |
| 18 | Kansas | $60,600 | $29.14 | 130 | 1.09 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $58,780 | $28.26 | 40 | 0.14 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $57,760 | $27.77 | 50 | 0.12 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $57,020 | $27.41 | 240 | 4.29 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $55,160 | $26.52 | 1,700 | 12.32 |
| 23 | Michigan | $54,020 | $25.97 | 70 | 0.21 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $49,410 | $23.76 | 910 | 5.81 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $38,520 | $18.52 | 30 | 0.20 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $37,700 | $18.12 | 70 | 0.62 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make?
The median annual wage for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in the United States is $67,890, or $32.64 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $47,010, and the top 10% earn $101,860.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in the U.S.?
About 12,600 people work as rotary drill operators, oil and gas nationwide.
Which state pays rotary drill operators, oil and gas the most?
Alaska pays the most at a median of $85,470, followed by New Mexico ($82,780) and Colorado ($79,830).
Which state pays rotary drill operators, oil and gas the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $37,700.
Where are rotary drill operators, oil and gas jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Oklahoma at 12.32×.