How much does a oil rig operator make?
Answer: A typical oil rig operator in the United States makes $58,620 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 11,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Oil rig operator pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $43,380 | $58,620 | $81,800 | about 11,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $86,980 | about 890 |
| New Mexico | $59,570 | about 880 |
| Oklahoma | $58,270 | about 580 |
| Texas | $56,100 | about 6,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, useful skills or credentials, employer and industry, and location. Long or irregular shifts—sometimes weeks away at remote or offshore sites—also mean people may work different hours, which can affect earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a oil rig operator do?
Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.
What's a typical day like?
They inspect the derrick, move pipe as the driller directs, and watch the mud pumps and fluid returning from the well. They also check and maintain equipment with the crew.
How to get this job
In the U.S., a high school diploma or GED may help, but is not always required. One route is to start as a roustabout, learn on the job beside experienced crew, and take safety training; some jobs also require a CDL.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
The “mud” used in drilling is more than dirt: derrick operators monitor the pumps and the fluid returning from the well.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Construction and Extraction jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/oil-and-gas-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-5011.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Wages/find-salary.aspx?dataview=table&hourly=False
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY