Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Alaska
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Alaska earn a median of $85,470 a year ($41.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,270 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $67,890. Alaska ranks 1st of 26 states for rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.39 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $94,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Alaska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,540 | $31.03 |
| 25th percentile | $77,640 | $37.33 |
| Median | $85,470 | $41.09 |
| 75th percentile | $107,870 | $51.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,270 | $55.42 |
| Average (mean) | $94,040 | $45.21 |
Half of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,122.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,561.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,287.31 |
| Weekly | $1,643.65 |
| Hourly | $41.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $85,470 salary, see how much house you can afford in Alaska at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in cities in Alaska
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $85,470 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for rotary drill operators, oil and gas
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $85,470 |
| New Mexico | $82,780 |
| Colorado | $79,830 |
| Nebraska | $79,140 |
| Texas | $77,840 |
| North Dakota | $71,280 |
| Utah | $70,400 |
| Alabama | $67,400 |
| Mississippi | $67,290 |
| New York | $67,000 |
Related jobs in Alaska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $106,480 | $51.19 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $60,810 | $29.23 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $80,040 | $38.48 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $78,050 | $37.53 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $74,680 | $35.90 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $48,820 | $23.47 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $106,840 | $51.36 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $93,130 | $44.77 |
| Construction Laborer | $58,060 | $27.91 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $77,810 | $37.41 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $102,140 | $49.10 |
| Carpenter | $73,860 | $35.51 |
| Electrician | $89,440 | $43.00 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $93,920 | $45.15 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Alaska
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Alaska?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Alaska is $85,470 a year, or $41.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Alaska?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Alaska earn at least $115,270 a year. The top 25% earn $107,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Alaska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,540 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $77,640 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in Alaska?
About 130 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in Alaska, not counting the self-employed.