Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Charleston, WV
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in the Charleston, WV metro area earn a median of $51,380 a year ($24.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,840 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $67,890. Pay here is 10% lower than the West Virginia statewide median of $57,020. There are 0.30 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $55,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Charleston, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| 25th percentile | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| Median | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| 75th percentile | $58,140 | $27.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,840 | $35.50 |
| Average (mean) | $55,350 | $26.61 |
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 | $4,281.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,140.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,976.15 |
| Weekly | $988.08 |
| Hourly | $24.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,380 salary, see how much house you can afford in West Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 |
See Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas pay in every state or the West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $65,280 | $31.39 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $60,680 | $29.17 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $57,640 | $27.71 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,420 | $38.18 |
| Electrician | $64,830 | $31.17 |
| Carpenter | $49,060 | $23.59 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $63,720 | $30.64 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $68,000 | $32.69 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $59,330 | $28.52 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $49,670 | $23.88 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Charleston, WV
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 Charleston, WV?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in the Charleston, WV metro area is $51,380 a year, or $24.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Charleston, WV?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in the Charleston, WV metro area earn at least $73,840 a year. The top 25% earn $58,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Charleston, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,670 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $46,730 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in Charleston, WV?
About 30 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in the Charleston, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.