Top 15 cities for rotary drill operators, oil and gas by average salary
| Anchorage, AK | $103,520 |
|---|---|
| Houston, TX | $88,240 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $83,290 |
| Dallas, TX | $81,660 |
| Midland, TX | $80,720 |
| Tyler, TX | $74,770 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $70,530 |
| Odessa, TX | $68,690 |
| San Antonio, TX | $68,500 |
| Farmington, NM | $67,600 |
| Casper, WY | $65,990 |
| Canton, OH | $65,420 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $60,910 |
| Tulsa, OK | $60,790 |
| Abilene, TX | $60,060 |
Map: Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary by metro area
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Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary by state
Alaska pays rotary drill operators, oil and gas the most statewide, $94,040 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $94,040 | $85,470 | 130 | 1 | $103,520 | $103,520 |
| New Mexico | $80,120 | $82,780 | 580 | 1 | $67,600 | $67,600 |
| North Dakota | $79,670 | $71,280 | 230 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| California | $79,290 | $65,520 | 460 | 1 | $83,290 | $83,290 |
| Texas | $78,700 | $77,840 | 5,980 | 8 | $88,240 | $60,060 |
| Colorado | $77,110 | $79,830 | 110 | 1 | $70,530 | $70,530 |
| Alabama | $74,520 | $67,400 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New York | $74,440 | $67,000 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nebraska | $73,900 | $79,140 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wyoming | $69,970 | $61,000 | 200 | 1 | $65,990 | $65,990 |
| Utah | $69,480 | $70,400 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $68,660 | $61,780 | 390 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Florida | $65,060 | $61,970 | 180 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | $64,970 | $63,600 | 290 | 1 | $65,420 | $65,420 |
| Arizona | $64,700 | $62,920 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Tennessee | $62,480 | $58,780 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | $62,470 | $61,410 | 110 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Mississippi | $62,420 | $67,290 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $60,770 | $55,160 | 1,700 | 2 | $60,790 | $59,460 |
| Michigan | $60,310 | $54,020 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| North Carolina | $58,370 | $57,760 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kansas | $57,710 | $60,600 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| West Virginia | $57,540 | $57,020 | 240 | 1 | $55,350 | $55,350 |
| Louisiana | $55,220 | $49,410 | 910 | 1 | $46,760 | $46,760 |
| Arkansas | $45,870 | $37,700 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $41,720 | $38,520 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $103,520 | $85,470 | $49.77 | 40 |
| Houston, TX | $88,240 | $79,450 | $42.43 | 2,100 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $83,290 | $75,660 | $40.04 | 190 |
| Dallas, TX | $81,660 | $81,360 | $39.26 | 470 |
| Midland, TX | $80,720 | $78,260 | $38.81 | 490 |
| Tyler, TX | $74,770 | $79,640 | $35.95 | 80 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $70,530 | $69,120 | $33.91 | 30 |
| Odessa, TX | $68,690 | $59,560 | $33.03 | 230 |
| San Antonio, TX | $68,500 | $63,310 | $32.93 | 90 |
| Farmington, NM | $67,600 | $62,730 | $32.50 | 60 |
| Casper, WY | $65,990 | $57,750 | $31.73 | 90 |
| Canton, OH | $65,420 | $63,600 | $31.45 | 50 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $60,910 | $57,700 | $29.29 | 40 |
| Tulsa, OK | $60,790 | $56,160 | $29.22 | 220 |
| Abilene, TX | $60,060 | $56,540 | $28.87 | 50 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $59,460 | $55,160 | $28.59 | 1,040 |
| Charleston, WV | $55,350 | $51,380 | $26.61 | 30 |
| Lafayette, LA | $46,760 | $49,190 | $22.48 | 400 |
Related jobs
- Derrick Operators, Oil and GasU.S. average $60,210
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasU.S. average $62,470
- Roustabouts, Oil and GasU.S. average $49,200
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningU.S. average $59,930
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and BlastersU.S. average $66,640
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasU.S. average $62,830
- Helpers--Extraction WorkersU.S. average $50,620
- Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsU.S. average $65,050
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary: questions
Where do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make the most money?
In Anchorage, AK, with an average of $103,520 a year, among the 18 metro areas we cover.
What is the average rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary in the U.S.?
$72,130 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $67,890, so half of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn more than that and half less.
What salary should rotary drill operators, oil and gas ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of rotary drill operators, oil and gas nationwide earn between $53,810 (25th percentile) and $81,360 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays rotary drill operators, oil and gas the most?
Alaska, with a statewide average of $94,040 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay the lowest?
Lafayette, LA, at $46,760 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-5012.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.