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.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.
Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
Repair pumps, mud tanks, and related equipment.
Set and bolt crown blocks to posts at tops of derricks.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlCritical ThinkingSpeakingRepairingMonitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas pay by experience level
Entry level$45,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$51,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$60,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$74,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$84,500
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
+0.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,000
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.
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas salary by industry
Support Activities for Mining
8,940 workers
$60,000
Support Activities for Mining
8,940 workers
$60,000
Oil and Gas Extraction
1,340 workers
$75,500
Oil and Gas Extraction
1,340 workers
$75,500
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
70 workers
$68,500
Utility System Construction
70 workers
$68,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$68,000
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services$68,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas pays 4% below the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
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