Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Construction and Extraction Occupations · 43K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$58,160
Median hourly
$28
Average annual
$62,470
Typical range
$38,940–$97,560
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas is $58,160 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 $28 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. Includes fishing-tool technicians..
Most earn between $38,940 and $97,560 a year. There are roughly 43K people employed as service unit 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 Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas.
- Hourly
- $27.96
- Daily
- $224
- Weekly
- $1,118
- Bi-weekly
- $2,237
- Monthly
- $4,847
- Annual
- $58,160
$58,160 a year is around the 50th percentile for Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gass. The median is $58,160.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Alaska$106,480
- 2Missouri$90,580
- 3Montana$77,750
- 4New Mexico$64,990
- 5Nebraska$62,990
- 6California$62,580
- 7Wyoming$62,560
- 8Florida$62,050
- 9Ohio$61,260
- 10North Dakota$60,810
- 11Louisiana$60,760
- 12Colorado$60,290
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Anchorage, AK$95,370
- 2St. Louis, MO-IL$91,890
- 3Cheyenne, WY$81,590
- 4Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$76,980
- 5Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$66,550
- 6Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$66,220
- 7Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$65,140
- 8Casper, WY$64,680
- 9Farmington, NM$64,500
- 10Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA$62,260
- 11Bakersfield-Delano, CA$62,170
- 12Tulsa, OK$62,110
Related job titles
Employers advertise Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas roles under these titles.
- Coiled Tubing Operator
- Fishing Tool Operator
- Gather Operator
- Oil and Gas Equipment Operator
- Oil and Gas Field Technician
- Oil Processing Technician
- Oil Well Fishing Tool Technician
- Oil Well Service Operator
- Oil Well Service Unit Operator
- Pulling Unit Operator
- Reverse Unit Operator
- Rig Operator
- Service Operator
- Service Rig Operator
- Service Unit Operator
- Shale Processing Technician
Related occupations
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$67,890
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$46,960
- Wellhead Pumpers$69,960
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$96,710
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$60,190
- Helpers--Extraction Workers$47,730
- Gas Plant Operators$87,820
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers$61,770
What a Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas does
- Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
- Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.
- Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.
- Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.
- Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.
- Thread cables through derrick pulleys, using hand tools.
- Close and seal wells no longer in use.
- Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas make?
- The median annual wage for Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas is $58,160 ($28 per hour). Pay ranges from about $38,940 at the 10th percentile to $97,560 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $62,470, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gass the most?
- Alaska has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $106,480.
- Is Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 43K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas do?
- Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.; Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.; Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads..