Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Colorado
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Colorado earn a median of $79,830 a year ($38.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,070 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $67,890. Colorado ranks 3rd of 26 states for rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.04 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $77,110, close to the median.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,410 | $29.52 |
| 25th percentile | $69,120 | $33.23 |
| Median | $79,830 | $38.38 |
| 75th percentile | $86,780 | $41.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,070 | $44.26 |
| Average (mean) | $77,110 | $37.07 |
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 | $6,652.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,326.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,070.38 |
| Weekly | $1,535.19 |
| Hourly | $38.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $79,830 salary, see how much house you can afford in Colorado at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in cities in Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, CO | $69,120 | 30 |
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 Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $60,290 | $28.98 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $61,020 | $29.34 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $81,110 | $38.99 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $64,730 | $31.12 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $64,820 | $31.16 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $37,450 | $18.00 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $46,590 | $22.40 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $79,150 | $38.05 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $81,270 | $39.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $81,230 | $39.05 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,900 | $23.03 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Colorado is $79,830 a year, or $38.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Colorado?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Colorado earn at least $92,070 a year. The top 25% earn $86,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,410 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $69,120 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in Colorado?
About 110 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.