Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas · Pennsylvania

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in Pennsylvania

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Pennsylvania earn a median annual wage of $61,780 —9.0% below the national median of $67,890. That ranks PA #15 of 26 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$61,780
Median hourly
$29.70
Entry level (P10)
$60,770
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$86,780
90th percentile
Employment
390
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-9.0%
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
$60,770
$61,530
$61,780
$74,900
$60,770$61,780$86,780
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $61,780.

Employment is only 0.80× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Pennsylvania.

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

All 26 states ranked by median annual wage. Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Pennsylvania.

Frequently asked questions

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

The median annual wage for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Pennsylvania is $61,780, or $29.70 per hour. That is 9.0% below the national median of $67,890.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $60,770 per year ($29.22/hour). The 25th percentile is $61,530.

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

About 390 people work in this occupation in Pennsylvania, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

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

Pennsylvania ranks #15 of 26 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.80x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Pennsylvania.

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