SOC 47-5011 · May 2025 · United States
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas across the United States is $58,620 per year, measured over 10,590 jobs. The highest state median is in Louisiana, at $86,980.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow more slowly than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +0.5%
- Openings per year
- 1,000
- Typical entry-level education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
Pay for this occupation varies by 92.5% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Louisiana pays $86,980 and Michigan pays $45,180.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | $86,980 | 890 | |
| 2 | Alaska | $78,050 | 170 | |
| 3 | Wyoming | $76,750 | 140 | |
| 4 | North Dakota | $71,850 | 490 | |
| 5 | Florida | $64,950 | 60 | |
| 6 | Colorado | $64,730 | 290 | |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $59,720 | 140 | |
| 8 | New Mexico | $59,570 | 880 | |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $58,270 | 580 | |
| 10 | Utah | $56,980 | 80 |
States with the most Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 5,810 | $56,100 | |
| 2 | Louisiana | 890 | $86,980 | |
| 3 | New Mexico | 880 | $59,570 | |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 580 | $58,270 | |
| 5 | North Dakota | 490 | $71,850 | |
| 6 | Colorado | 290 | $64,730 | |
| 7 | Mississippi | 200 | $47,340 | |
| 8 | Alaska | 170 | $78,050 | |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 140 | $59,720 | |
| 10 | Wyoming | 140 | $76,750 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casper | $76,840 | 30 |
| 2 | Denver | $69,700 | 70 |
| 3 | Tyler | $63,190 | 120 |
| 4 | Houston | $62,910 | 1,560 |
| 5 | Oklahoma City | $62,370 | 260 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh | $57,350 | — |
| 7 | Midland | $56,120 | 580 |
| 8 | Greeley | $55,040 | 90 |
| 9 | Odessa | $53,130 | 390 |
| 10 | Bakersfield | $52,780 | — |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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