Derrick operators, oil and gas salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43,380 | $20.86 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| Mean (average) | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| 90th percentile | $81,800 | $39.33 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Derrick operators, oil and gas pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 19 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,350 | $36,260 | $61,950 | ||
| Alaska | $78,050 | $62,400 | $93,490 | 170 | 7.65 |
| Arkansas | $50,070 | $48,820 | $61,450 | 50 | 0.59 |
| California | $55,480 | $52,760 | $71,470 | ||
| Colorado | $64,730 | $47,450 | $79,330 | 290 | 1.49 |
| Florida | $64,950 | $49,420 | $81,390 | 60 | 0.08 |
| Illinois | $45,900 | $31,690 | $55,180 | ||
| Louisiana | $86,980 | $45,770 | $98,840 | 890 | 6.73 |
| Michigan | $45,180 | $44,620 | $59,560 | 40 | 0.12 |
| Mississippi | $47,340 | $37,340 | $77,760 | 200 | 2.59 |
| New Mexico | $59,570 | $31,670 | $74,800 | 880 | 14.84 |
| North Dakota | $71,850 | $63,380 | $80,040 | 490 | 16.8 |
| Ohio | $50,650 | $39,610 | $63,180 | 120 | 0.31 |
| Oklahoma | $58,270 | $48,960 | $68,640 | 580 | 4.96 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,720 | $56,330 | $59,720 | 140 | 0.35 |
| Texas | $56,100 | $43,840 | $74,690 | 5,810 | 6.06 |
| Utah | $56,980 | $54,640 | $78,940 | 80 | 0.67 |
| West Virginia | $50,640 | $47,660 | $72,800 | 60 | 1.23 |
| Wyoming | $76,750 | $63,400 | $83,990 | 140 | 7.4 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for derrick operators, oil and gas
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for derrick operators, oil and gas
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Well Drilling/Driller CIP 46.0504
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings.
- Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
- Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
- Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
- Prepare mud reports, and instruct crews about the handling of any chemical additives.
- Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices.
- Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.
- Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Repairing, Complex Problem Solving, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Derrick Hand, Derrick Man, Derrick Operator, Derrick Worker, Derrickhand, Derrickman, Floor Hand, Rig Hand, Roughneck.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make?
The national median annual wage for derrick operators, oil and gas was $58,620 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $43,380 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $81,800. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do derrick operators, oil and gas need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is derrick operators, oil and gas a growing career?
BLS projects employment of derrick operators, oil and gas to change +1.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay derrick operators, oil and gas the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Louisiana ($86,980), Alaska ($78,050), Wyoming ($76,750). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.