How much does a Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas make?

The median annual wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas is $67,890 ($33 per hour). Pay ranges from about $47,010 at the 10th percentile to $101,860 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas?

The average (mean) annual salary is $72,130, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gass the most?

Alaska has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $85,470.

Is Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 13K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas do?

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.; 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..

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary

Construction and Extraction Occupations · 13K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$67,890

Median hourly

$33

Average annual

$72,130

Typical range

$47,010–$101,860

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$47,010

25th$53,810

Median$67,890

75th$81,360

90th$101,860

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas is $67,890 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $33 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration..

Most earn between $47,010 and $101,860 a year. There are roughly 13K people employed as rotary drill operators, oil and gas in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $32.64
Daily: $261
Weekly: $1,306
Bi-weekly: $2,611
Monthly: $5,658
Annual: $67,890

$67,890 a year is around the 50th percentile for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gass. The median is $67,890.

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$22.60	$47,010
25th percentile	$25.90	$53,810
Median	$32.60	$67,890
75th percentile	$39.10	$81,360
90th percentile	$49.00	$101,860
Average (mean)	$34.70	$72,130
Employment	12,600 people

Key skills

Critical Thinking
Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Monitoring
Active Listening
Instructing
Speaking
Coordination
Reading Comprehension
Complex Problem Solving

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Alaska$85,470
2New Mexico$82,780
3Colorado$79,830
4Nebraska$79,140
5Texas$77,840
6North Dakota$71,280
7Utah$70,400
8Alabama$67,400
9Mississippi$67,290
10New York$67,000
11California$65,520
12Ohio$63,600

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1Anchorage, AK$85,470
2Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$81,360
3Tyler, TX$79,640
4Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$79,450
5Midland, TX$78,260
6Bakersfield-Delano, CA$75,660
7Grand Junction, CO$69,120
8Canton-Massillon, OH$63,600
9San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX$63,310
10Farmington, NM$62,730
11Odessa, TX$59,560
12Casper, WY$57,750

Related job titles

Employers advertise Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas does

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.
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.
Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools.
Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools.
Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables.
Remove core samples during drilling to determine the nature of the strata being drilled.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas make?: The median annual wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas is $67,890 ($33 per hour). Pay ranges from about $47,010 at the 10th percentile to $101,860 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas?: The average (mean) annual salary is $72,130, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gass the most?: Alaska has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $85,470.
Is Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 13K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas do?: 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.; 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..