SOC 47-5012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas — Louisiana
Louisiana · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Louisiana is $49,410 per year, substantially below the national median of $67,890 — a gap of 27.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Louisiana is $49,410 per year, substantially below the national median of $67,890 — a gap of 27.2%. Pay ranges from under $31,990 at the tenth percentile to more than $79,380 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,170 to $70,180.
The area has 910 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. Among the 26 states with published data for this occupation, Louisiana ranks 24th by median wage. Lafayette leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 375th of 679 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,990 | −52.9% |
| 25th | $44,170 | −34.9% |
| Median (50th) | $49,410 | −27.2% |
| 75th | $70,180 | +3.4% |
| 90th | $79,380 | +16.9% |
| Mean | $55,220 | −18.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | $49,190 | 400 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $49,410 goes as far as $56,020 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,410as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,020US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,410 a year, 27.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,990 to $79,380 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 910 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 24th of 26 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lafayette, at $49,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Louisiana?
The median annual wage is $49,410, or $23.76 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 Louisiana is 27.2% 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 Louisiana earns more than $79,380 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,990 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 Lafayette, at $49,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 910 jobs in this occupation in Louisiana. 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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