Rotary drill operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$38.42 per hour

$79,910 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$36.41 per hour

$75,730 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$26.52 per hour

$55,160 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$24.13 per hour

$50,200 per year

10th percentile

Starting level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$23.16 per hour

$48,180 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 Oklahoma. On average, they make less than boilermakers but more than derrick operators.

Career Median Salary
Boilermaker salary $78K
Crane operator salary $64K
Sheet metal worker salary $66K
Electrician salary $61K
Wellhead pumper salary $61K
Rotary drill operator salary $55K
Marine electrician salary $64K
Pipefitter salary $58K
Plumber salary $58K
Derrick operator salary $58K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)