SOC 47-5011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas — Alabama
Alabama
The median wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas in Alabama is $49,350 per year, 15.8% below the national median of $58,620.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas in Alabama is $49,350 per year, 15.8% below the national median of $58,620. Pay ranges from under $36,260 at the tenth percentile to more than $61,950 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,130 to $60,160.
Among the 19 states with published data for this occupation, Alabama ranks 16th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 387th of 690 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,260 | −38.1% |
| 25th | $37,130 | −36.7% |
| Median (50th) | $49,350 | −15.8% |
| 75th | $60,160 | +2.6% |
| 90th | $61,950 | +5.7% |
| Mean | $49,610 | −15.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $49,350 goes as far as $55,574 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,350as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,574US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,350 a year, 15.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,260 to $61,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 16th of 19 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas in Alabama?
The median annual wage is $49,350, or $23.72 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $58,620, so pay in Alabama is 15.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Alabama earns more than $61,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,260 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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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