Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Grand Junction, CO
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in the Grand Junction, CO metro area earn a median of $69,120 a year ($33.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,780 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $67,890. Pay here is 13% lower than the Colorado statewide median of $79,830. There are 0.50 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Grand Junction, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| 25th percentile | $68,270 | $32.82 |
| Median | $69,120 | $33.23 |
| 75th percentile | $80,560 | $38.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,780 | $39.32 |
| Average (mean) | $70,530 | $33.91 |
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 | $5,760 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,880 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,658.46 |
| Weekly | $1,329.23 |
| Hourly | $33.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $69,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in Colorado 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 Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Grand Junction, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $56,370 | $27.10 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $74,660 | $35.89 |
| Construction Laborer | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| Electrician | $56,550 | $27.19 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Carpenter | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,430 | $29.53 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $55,610 | $26.74 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $50,660 | $24.36 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $52,340 | $25.17 |
| Roofer | $50,140 | $24.10 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $66,240 | $31.85 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Grand Junction, CO
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 Grand Junction, CO?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in the Grand Junction, CO metro area is $69,120 a year, or $33.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Grand Junction, CO?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in the Grand Junction, CO metro area earn at least $81,780 a year. The top 25% earn $80,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Grand Junction, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,340 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $68,270 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in Grand Junction, CO?
About 30 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in the Grand Junction, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.