The average salary for a rotary drill operator in the United States is around $63,382 per year.
Avg Salary
Rotary drill operators earn an average yearly salary of $63,382.
Wages typically start from $41,342 and go up to $97,173.
1% above national average Updated in 2023
Rotary drill operator earnings by seniority
Top-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$46.72 per hour
$97,173 per year
Senior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$38.16 per hour
$79,367 per year
Mid-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$30.47 per hour
$63,382 per year
Junior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$24.34 per hour
$50,617 per year
Starting level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$19.88 per hour
$41,342 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Rotary drill operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $77,050 |
| North Dakota | $77,000 |
| Colorado | $75,910 |
| New Mexico | $75,270 |
| Missouri | $75,150 |
| Wyoming | $62,210 |
| Utah | $61,930 |
| Louisiana | $61,360 |
| Minnesota | $56,660 |
| Texas | $55,920 |
| Georgia | $55,400 |
| Maryland | $55,060 |
| Virginia | $52,400 |
| New York | $50,350 |
| Ohio | $48,570 |
| Montana | $48,420 |
| Alaska | $48,320 |
| Michigan | $48,280 |
| West Virginia | $48,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,010 |
| Oklahoma | $48,000 |
| Illinois | $47,130 |
| Indiana | $47,060 |
| Arizona | $46,910 |
| Florida | $46,700 |
| Kansas | $46,640 |
| Mississippi | $46,420 |
| Arkansas | $43,400 |
| Kentucky | $36,750 |
| Alabama | $30,100 |
How do rotary drill operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Rotary drill operators earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than wellhead pumpers but more than fallers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Wellhead pumper salary | $72K |
| Millwright salary | $66K |
| Petroleum pump system operator salary | $64K |
| Derrick operator salary | $65K |
| Pipefitter salary | $63K |
| Rotary drill operator salary | $63K |
| Plasterer salary | $64K |
| Mining machine operator salary | $62K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $60K |
| Faller salary | $53K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)