SOC 47-5012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas — Nebraska
Nebraska
Median pay for this occupation in Nebraska comes to $79,140 a year, ahead of the national median of $67,890 by 16.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Nebraska comes to $79,140 a year, ahead of the national median of $67,890 by 16.6%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $57,020 and $86,390. The lowest tenth earn under $50,130, while the highest tenth earn more than $100,060.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 26 states with published data for this occupation, Nebraska ranks 4th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 154th of 662 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,130 | −26.2% |
| 25th | $57,020 | −16.0% |
| Median (50th) | $79,140 | +16.6% |
| 75th | $86,390 | +27.2% |
| 90th | $100,060 | +47.4% |
| Mean | $73,900 | +8.9% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Nebraska run 9.9% below the national average, so the median of $79,140 goes as far as $87,836 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 29.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$87,836US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,140 a year, 16.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,130 to $100,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 4th of 26 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Nebraska?
The median annual wage is $79,140, or $38.05 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 Nebraska is 16.6% 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 Nebraska earns more than $100,060 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,130 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Nebraska. 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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