SOC 47-5011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas — Odessa
Odessa, TX · 6 metro areas compared
In Odessa, TX the median wage is $53,130.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Odessa, TX the median wage is $53,130. That is 9.4% lower than the national median of $58,620. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $51,010 and $61,220. The lowest tenth earn under $45,870, while the highest tenth earn more than $63,280.
Employment stands at 390, or 4.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Tyler leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 119th of 241 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,870 | −21.8% |
| 25th | $51,010 | −13.0% |
| Median (50th) | $53,130 | −9.4% |
| 75th | $61,220 | +4.4% |
| 90th | $63,280 | +7.9% |
| Mean | $54,580 | −6.9% |
Other metro areas in Texas
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Odessa run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $53,130 goes as far as $54,717 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$53,130as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$54,717US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $53,130 a year, 9.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,870 to $63,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 390 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Tyler, at $63,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas in Odessa, TX?
The median annual wage is $53,130, or $25.54 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 Odessa, TX is 9.4% 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 Odessa, TX earns more than $63,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,870 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Tyler, at $63,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 390 jobs in this occupation in Odessa, TX. Self-employed workers are not included.
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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