Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for derrick operators, oil and gass across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Louisiana$77,630
- Alaska$77,570
- North Dakota$73,210
- Wyoming$72,600
- Florida$71,090
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Illinois$43,730
- Michigan$48,540
- Mississippi$49,260
- Alabama$49,610
- Ohio$50,190
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | $77,630 | $86,980 | $37 | +28.9% | 890 |
| 2 | Alaska | $77,570 | $78,050 | $37 | +28.8% | 170 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $73,210 | $71,850 | $35 | +21.6% | 490 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $72,600 | $76,750 | $35 | +20.6% | 140 |
| 5 | Florida | $71,090 | $64,950 | $34 | +18.1% | 60 |
| 6 | Colorado | $65,740 | $64,730 | $32 | +9.2% | 290 |
| 7 | Utah | $62,950 | $56,980 | $30 | +4.6% | 80 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $59,480 | $59,720 | $29 | -1.2% | 140 |
| 9 | California | $59,400 | $55,480 | $29 | -1.3% | — |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $58,760 | $58,270 | $28 | -2.4% | 580 |
| 11 | Texas | $57,690 | $56,100 | $28 | -4.2% | 5,810 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $57,620 | $50,640 | $28 | -4.3% | 60 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $57,140 | $59,570 | $27 | -5.1% | 880 |
| 14 | Arkansas | $51,820 | $50,070 | $25 | -13.9% | 50 |
| 15 | Ohio | $50,190 | $50,650 | $24 | -16.6% | 120 |
| 16 | Alabama | $49,610 | $49,350 | $24 | -17.6% | — |
| 17 | Mississippi | $49,260 | $47,340 | $24 | -18.2% | 200 |
| 18 | Michigan | $48,540 | $45,180 | $23 | -19.4% | 40 |
| 19 | Illinois | $43,730 | $45,900 | $21 | -27.4% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 30 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $81,800 | $71,470 | 160 |
| 2 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $78,870 | $79,420 | 130 |
| 3 | Casper, WY | $76,840 | $77,940 | 30 |
| 4 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $71,850 | $73,270 | 480 |
| 5 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $71,350 | $71,440 | — |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $69,700 | $70,650 | 70 |
| 7 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $64,000 | $67,840 | 30 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $63,190 | $59,890 | 120 |
| 9 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $62,910 | $64,080 | 1,560 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $62,370 | $61,490 | 260 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing derrick operators, oil and gass (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $83,580 | $72,790 | 1,340 |
| 2 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $83,580 | $72,790 | 1,340 |
| 3 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $81,280 | $65,570 | — |
| 4 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $81,280 | $65,570 | — |
| 5 | Engineering Services | $81,280 | $70,270 | — |
| 6 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $81,280 | $65,570 | — |
| 7 | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $64,950 | $66,010 | 70 |
| 8 | Utility System Construction | $64,950 | $66,010 | 70 |
| 9 | Sector 23 - Construction | $64,950 | $67,990 | 80 |
| 10 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $58,620 | $60,210 | 10,590 |
| 11 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $58,620 | $60,210 | 10,590 |
| 12 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $58,400 | $60,090 | 10,300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make in the U.S.?
The median derrick operators, oil and gas salary in the United States is $58,620 per year (mean $60,210), and about 80% earn between $43,380 and $81,800.
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make per hour?
Roughly $29 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $60,210 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays derrick operators, oil and gas the most?
Louisiana has the highest average pay for derrick operators, oil and gas at $77,630 per year (median $86,980).
What is the job outlook for derrick operators, oil and gas?
Employment is projected to change +0.5% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 1,000 openings per year.