Rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Mean (average) | $72,130 | $34.68 |
| 90th percentile | $101,860 | $48.97 |
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
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 26 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $67,400 | $44,700 | $120,610 | 40 | 0.23 |
| Alaska | $85,470 | $64,540 | $115,270 | 130 | 4.76 |
| Arizona | $62,920 | $33,430 | $100,130 | 30 | 0.13 |
| Arkansas | $37,700 | $37,430 | $74,560 | 70 | 0.62 |
| California | $65,520 | $49,880 | $120,130 | 460 | 0.31 |
| Colorado | $79,830 | $61,410 | $92,070 | 110 | 0.49 |
| Florida | $61,970 | $58,500 | $87,170 | 180 | 0.22 |
| Kansas | $60,600 | $31,000 | $77,810 | 130 | 1.09 |
| Kentucky | $38,520 | $36,270 | $46,030 | 30 | 0.2 |
| Louisiana | $49,410 | $31,990 | $79,380 | 910 | 5.81 |
| Michigan | $54,020 | $40,910 | $103,990 | 70 | 0.21 |
| Mississippi | $67,290 | $36,170 | $98,160 | 130 | 1.39 |
| Nebraska | $79,140 | $50,130 | $100,060 | 40 | 0.46 |
| New Mexico | $82,780 | $48,840 | $101,860 | 580 | 8.23 |
| New York | $67,000 | $54,690 | $99,340 | 50 | 0.06 |
| North Carolina | $57,760 | $33,420 | $97,470 | 50 | 0.12 |
| North Dakota | $71,280 | $52,280 | $104,970 | 230 | 6.69 |
| Ohio | $63,600 | $46,380 | $82,860 | 290 | 0.64 |
| Oklahoma | $55,160 | $48,180 | $79,910 | 1,700 | 12.32 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,780 | $60,770 | $86,780 | 390 | 0.8 |
| Tennessee | $58,780 | $44,470 | $78,480 | 40 | 0.14 |
| Texas | $77,840 | $47,840 | $121,470 | 5,980 | 5.25 |
| Utah | $70,400 | $49,440 | $103,460 | ||
| Virginia | $61,410 | $44,320 | $72,070 | 110 | 0.32 |
| West Virginia | $57,020 | $46,730 | $80,250 | 240 | 4.29 |
| Wyoming | $61,000 | $38,390 | $99,930 | 200 | 8.76 |
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 rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,100. 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 rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-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
- Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
- Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
- Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
- Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
- Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
- Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
- Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
- Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Python (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- CAPSHER Technology SureTec
- Drillingsoftware DrillPro
- Drillingsoftware Tubular Database
- Pason WellView Field Solution
- Schlumberger Petrel E&P
- Structure query language SQL
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Instructing, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Daylight Driller, Drill Operator, Driller, Motor Man, Oil Rig Driller, Oil Well Driller, Relief Driller, Rig Operator, Rotary Drill Operator, Rotary Driller.
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 rotary drill operators, oil and gas make?
The national median annual wage for rotary drill operators, oil and gas was $67,890 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $47,010 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $101,860. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do rotary drill 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 moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is rotary drill operators, oil and gas a growing career?
BLS projects employment of rotary drill operators, oil and gas to change +0.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay rotary drill operators, oil and gas the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($85,470), New Mexico ($82,780), Colorado ($79,830). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.