Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for rotary drill 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
- Alaska$94,040
- New Mexico$80,120
- North Dakota$79,670
- California$79,290
- Texas$78,700
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Kentucky$41,720
- Arkansas$45,870
- Louisiana$55,220
- West Virginia$57,540
- Kansas$57,710
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $94,040 | $85,470 | $45 | +30.4% | 130 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $80,120 | $82,780 | $39 | +11.1% | 580 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $79,670 | $71,280 | $38 | +10.5% | 230 |
| 4 | California | $79,290 | $65,520 | $38 | +9.9% | 460 |
| 5 | Texas | $78,700 | $77,840 | $38 | +9.1% | 5,980 |
| 6 | Colorado | $77,110 | $79,830 | $37 | +6.9% | 110 |
| 7 | Alabama | $74,520 | $67,400 | $36 | +3.3% | 40 |
| 8 | New York | $74,440 | $67,000 | $36 | +3.2% | 50 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $73,900 | $79,140 | $36 | +2.5% | 40 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $69,970 | $61,000 | $34 | -3% | 200 |
| 11 | Utah | $69,480 | $70,400 | $33 | -3.7% | — |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $68,660 | $61,780 | $33 | -4.8% | 390 |
| 13 | Florida | $65,060 | $61,970 | $31 | -9.8% | 180 |
| 14 | Ohio | $64,970 | $63,600 | $31 | -9.9% | 290 |
| 15 | Arizona | $64,700 | $62,920 | $31 | -10.3% | 30 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $62,480 | $58,780 | $30 | -13.4% | 40 |
| 17 | Virginia | $62,470 | $61,410 | $30 | -13.4% | 110 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $62,420 | $67,290 | $30 | -13.5% | 130 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $60,770 | $55,160 | $29 | -15.7% | 1,700 |
| 20 | Michigan | $60,310 | $54,020 | $29 | -16.4% | 70 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $58,370 | $57,760 | $28 | -19.1% | 50 |
| 22 | Kansas | $57,710 | $60,600 | $28 | -20% | 130 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $57,540 | $57,020 | $28 | -20.2% | 240 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $55,220 | $49,410 | $27 | -23.4% | 910 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $45,870 | $37,700 | $22 | -36.4% | 70 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $41,720 | $38,520 | $20 | -42.2% | 30 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 34 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $85,470 | $103,520 | 40 |
| 2 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $84,490 | $89,920 | 80 |
| 3 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $81,740 | $82,320 | 300 |
| 4 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $81,360 | $81,660 | 470 |
| 5 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $81,120 | $78,410 | 50 |
| 6 | Tyler, TX | $79,640 | $74,770 | 80 |
| 7 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,450 | $88,240 | 2,100 |
| 8 | Midland, TX | $78,260 | $80,720 | 490 |
| 9 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $75,730 | $73,330 | 580 |
| 10 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $75,660 | $83,290 | 190 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing rotary drill operators, oil and gass (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engineering Services | $107,010 | $92,920 | 120 |
| 2 | Pipeline Transportation | $100,570 | $98,650 | 150 |
| 3 | Other Pipeline Transportation | $100,570 | $98,650 | 150 |
| 4 | Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing | $100,570 | $98,650 | 150 |
| 5 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $81,950 | $79,150 | 90 |
| 6 | Metal Ore Mining | $81,920 | $75,580 | 60 |
| 7 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $76,940 | $75,390 | 2,080 |
| 8 | Oil and Gas Extraction | $76,940 | $75,390 | 2,080 |
| 9 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $71,490 | $72,560 | 11,530 |
| 10 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $67,930 | $72,150 | 12,580 |
| 11 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $67,890 | $72,130 | 12,600 |
| 12 | Support Activities for Mining | $67,760 | $71,870 | 9,360 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in the U.S.?
The median rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary in the United States is $67,890 per year (mean $72,130), and about 80% earn between $47,010 and $101,860.
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make per hour?
Roughly $35 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $72,130 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays rotary drill operators, oil and gas the most?
Alaska has the highest average pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas at $94,040 per year (median $85,470).
What is the job outlook for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
Employment is projected to change +0.2% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 1,200 openings per year.