Rotary drill operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$39.64 per hour

$82,450 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$37.64 per hour

$78,300 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$29.50 per hour

$61,360 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$18.69 per hour

$38,880 per year

10th percentile

Starting level rotary drill operator earnings begin at:

$14.54 per hour

$30,250 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 Louisiana. On average, they make less than wellhead pumpers but more than avionics technicians.

Career Median Salary
Wellhead pumper salary $60K
Boilermaker salary $62K
Commercial diver salary $60K
Marine electrician salary $62K
Hydroelectric plant technician salary $61K
Rotary drill operator salary $61K
Derrick operator salary $61K
Plumber salary $59K
Pipefitter salary $59K
Avionics technician salary $47K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)