Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas · California

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in California

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in California earn a median annual wage of $65,520 —3.5% below the national median of $67,890. That ranks CA #11 of 26 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$65,520
Median hourly
$31.50
Entry level (P10)
$49,880
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$120,130
90th percentile
Employment
460
0.0 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-3.5%
U.S. $67,890

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$49,880
$59,380
$65,520
$102,240
$49,880$65,520$120,130
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $65,520.

Employment is only 0.31× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Highest-paying states for rotary drill operators, oil and gas

All 26 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Alaska$85,470$41.091304.76
2New Mexico$82,780$39.805808.23
3Colorado$79,830$38.381100.49
4Nebraska$79,140$38.05400.46
5Texas$77,840$37.435,9805.25
6North Dakota$71,280$34.272306.69
7Utah$70,400$33.85——
8Alabama$67,400$32.41400.23
9Mississippi$67,290$32.351301.39
10New York$67,000$32.21500.06

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in California?

The median annual wage for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in California is $65,520, or $31.50 per hour. That is 3.5% below the national median of $67,890.

What is the entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $49,880 per year ($23.98/hour). The 25th percentile is $59,380.

How many people work as rotary drill operators, oil and gas in California?

About 460 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?

California ranks #11 of 26 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.31x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Which state pays rotary drill operators, oil and gas the most?

Alaska has the highest median wage at $85,470 per year, followed by New Mexico ($82,780) and Colorado ($79,830).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes