SOC 47-5012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas — Alaska
Alaska · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Alaska is $85,470 per year, well above the national median of $67,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Alaska is $85,470 per year, well above the national median of $67,890. The gap of 25.9% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $64,540 at the tenth percentile to more than $115,270 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $77,640 to $107,870.
Employment stands at 130, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 26 states with published data for this occupation, Alaska ranks 1st by median wage. Anchorage leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $85,470. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 163rd of 515 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,540 | −4.9% |
| 25th | $77,640 | +14.4% |
| Median (50th) | $85,470 | +25.9% |
| 75th | $107,870 | +58.9% |
| 90th | $115,270 | +69.8% |
| Mean | $94,040 | +38.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Alaska
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage | $85,470 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alaska run 2.4% above the national average, so the median of $85,470 buys what $83,467 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 22.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$85,470as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$83,467US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $85,470 a year, 25.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,540 to $115,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 26 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Anchorage, at $85,470.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Alaska?
The median annual wage is $85,470, or $41.09 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 $67,890, so pay in Alaska is 25.9% higher. 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 Alaska earns more than $115,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,540 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 Anchorage, at $85,470 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Alaska. 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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