Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary by state
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$74,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$8,000
10.9% of base
Total target cash
$82,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$5,00050th$8,00075th$13,000
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas is a professional role within the function in the Construction and Extraction job family.
Typical entry preparation: Less than a High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlCritical ThinkingMonitoringInstructingActive Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas pay by experience level
Entry level$48,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$55,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$70,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$84,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$105,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+0.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,200
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary by industry
Support Activities for Mining
9,360 workers
$74,500
Support Activities for Mining
9,360 workers
$74,500
Oil and Gas Extraction
2,080 workers
$78,000
Oil and Gas Extraction
2,080 workers
$78,000
Specialty Trade Contractors
240 workers
$65,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
210 workers
$82,500
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
200 workers
$64,500
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
180 workers
$82,000
Pipeline Transportation
150 workers
$102,000
Other Pipeline Transportation
150 workers
$102,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas pays 15% above the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
Need Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
