Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
Less than 5 years
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in a specialized trade with a defined national footprint and steady employment expectations. National employment stands at 13,000, with projected growth of 0.2% and about 1,000 job openings per year. This combination suggests a career path where overall job numbers are relatively stable while still generating regular openings from turnover and other workforce changes. The national median annual salary of $65,010 positions this as a solid earning option within skilled trades. Opportunity is spread across several states and metro areas, with particularly notable concentrations in Texas and parts of California, New York, Colorado, and Virginia. The occupation draws on both physical capabilities and cognitive skills, including mechanical skills, detail orientation, problem solving, and leadership. For people interested in hands-on work in the oil and gas sector who can develop a blend of technical, analytical, and physical skills, this role can offer consistent opportunities and competitive pay without formal educational requirements.
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn a national median annual salary of $65,010, with notable variation by state and metro area. Among the top states, Colorado ($79,830) and Texas ($77,840) offer higher median salaries than California ($65,520), New York ($67,000), and Virginia ($61,410). At the metro level, salaries in some areas exceed even these state medians. Anchorage, AK has a median salary of $85,470, while Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX is at $81,360 and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX is at $79,450. Midland, TX ($78,260) and San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX ($63,310) show that earnings can differ significantly even within a single state. These differences suggest that location is a key factor in earning potential for this occupation, and that certain regions, particularly specific metro areas, may provide access to higher pay for qualified operators.
This occupation shows a combination of stable overall employment and ongoing hiring needs. National employment for rotary drill operators, oil and gas is 13,000, with projected employment growth of 0.2%. While this projected growth rate is modest, the occupation is expected to generate about 1,000 annual openings. This indicates that a significant share of opportunities will likely arise from job changes, retirements, and other workforce movements rather than large-scale expansion of total positions. The uniform projected growth rate of 0.2% appearing across the top states and metro areas suggests that expectations for future change are relatively consistent in key regions. For career planners, this pattern points to a labor market where new positions may not increase sharply, but regular openings still occur, supporting ongoing entry into the field for individuals who meet employer requirements and build the necessary skill set.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for rotary drill operators, oil and gas. Among states with the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores, California (67.38) and New York (65.78) rank at the top, followed by Colorado (56.97), Virginia (54.96), and Texas (51.57). Texas stands out for scale, with employment of 5,980 compared with 460 in California, 110 in Colorado, 110 in Virginia, and 50 in New York. Median salaries also vary, with Colorado ($79,830) and Texas ($77,840) above California ($65,520), New York ($67,000), and Virginia ($61,410). At the metro level, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX has the highest opportunity score (55.08) and a median salary of $81,360, while Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX combines the largest metro employment (2,100) with a median salary of $79,450. Anchorage, AK shows a high median salary of $85,470 despite smaller employment (40). Midland and San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX also offer notable clusters of jobs and distinct pay levels.
The typical education requirement for rotary drill operators, oil and gas is listed as no formal educational credential. This means entry does not depend on completing a specific degree or formal program, placing greater emphasis on skills and capabilities developed through other pathways. The top skills for this occupation reflect a blend of physical, mechanical, and analytical strengths. Mechanical skills, fine motor abilities, physical strength and stamina, and being detail oriented support the hands-on and precision aspects of the work. Problem solving and decision making, critical and analytical thinking, and mathematics indicate the importance of reasoning through operational issues and working with quantitative information. Science knowledge and strong writing and reading abilities round out the profile, supporting understanding of technical information and effective communication. For someone pursuing this path, building these skills—whether through work experience, informal training, or targeted skill development—can be central to qualifying for and advancing in the role.
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