The average salary for a rotary drill operator in the United States is around $67,890 per year.
Avg Salary
Rotary drill operators earn an average yearly salary of $67,890.
Wages typically start from $47,010 and go up to $101,860.
5% above national average Updated in 2025
Rotary drill operator earnings by seniority
Top-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$48.97 per hour
$101,860 per year
Senior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$39.12 per hour
$81,360 per year
Mid-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$32.64 per hour
$67,890 per year
Junior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$25.87 per hour
$53,810 per year
Starting level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$22.60 per hour
$47,010 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Rotary drill operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $85,470 |
| New Mexico | $82,780 |
| Colorado | $79,830 |
| Nebraska | $79,140 |
| Texas | $77,840 |
| Missouri | $75,150 |
| North Dakota | $71,280 |
| Utah | $70,400 |
| Alabama | $67,400 |
| Mississippi | $67,290 |
| New York | $67,000 |
| California | $65,520 |
| Ohio | $63,600 |
| Arizona | $62,920 |
| Florida | $61,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,780 |
| Virginia | $61,410 |
| Wyoming | $61,000 |
| Kansas | $60,600 |
| Tennessee | $58,780 |
| North Carolina | $57,760 |
| West Virginia | $57,020 |
| Minnesota | $56,660 |
| Georgia | $55,400 |
| Oklahoma | $55,160 |
| Maryland | $55,060 |
| Michigan | $54,020 |
| Louisiana | $49,410 |
| Montana | $48,420 |
| Illinois | $47,130 |
| Indiana | $47,060 |
| Kentucky | $38,520 |
| Arkansas | $37,700 |
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 avionics technicians but more than ironworkers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Avionics technician salary | $82K |
| Marine electrician salary | $85K |
| Boilermaker salary | $76K |
| Pipefitter salary | $64K |
| Plumber salary | $64K |
| Rotary drill operator salary | $68K |
| Crane operator salary | $68K |
| Electrician salary | $63K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $70K |
| Ironworker salary | $63K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)