Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in New Mexico
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in New Mexico earn a median of $82,780 a year ($39.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,860 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $67,890. New Mexico ranks 2nd of 26 states for rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.67 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 8.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $80,120, close to the median.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in New Mexico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,840 | $23.48 |
| 25th percentile | $62,730 | $30.16 |
| Median | $82,780 | $39.80 |
| 75th percentile | $91,390 | $43.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Average (mean) | $80,120 | $38.52 |
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 | $6,898.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,449.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,183.85 |
| Weekly | $1,591.92 |
| Hourly | $39.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $82,780 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Mexico at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in cities in New Mexico
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Farmington, NM | $62,730 | 60 |
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 New Mexico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $50,000 | $24.04 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $76,350 | $36.71 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $54,840 | $26.37 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $60,140 | $28.91 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $78,960 | $37.96 |
| Construction Laborer | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,130 | $36.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Electrician | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Carpenter | $59,720 | $28.71 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,440 | $29.54 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in New Mexico
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 New Mexico?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in New Mexico is $82,780 a year, or $39.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in New Mexico?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in New Mexico earn at least $101,860 a year. The top 25% earn $91,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in New Mexico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,840 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $62,730 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in New Mexico?
About 580 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in New Mexico, not counting the self-employed.