The average salary for a rotary drill operator in North Dakota is around $71,280 per year.
Avg Salary
Rotary drill operators earn an average yearly salary of $71,280.
Wages typically start from $52,280 and go up to $104,970.
17% above national average Updated in 2025
Rotary drill operator earnings by seniority
Top-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$50.47 per hour
$104,970 per year
Senior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$48.79 per hour
$101,490 per year
Mid-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$34.27 per hour
$71,280 per year
Junior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$29.00 per hour
$60,310 per year
Starting level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:
$25.14 per hour
$52,280 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 North Dakota. On average, they make less than petroleum pump system operators but more than brickmasons.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Petroleum pump system operator salary | $93K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $80K |
| Crane operator salary | $83K |
| Rotary drill operator salary | $71K |
| Ironworker salary | $82K |
| Pump operator salary | $81K |
| Derrick operator salary | $72K |
| Brickmason salary | $80K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)