Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Pennsylvania
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Pennsylvania earn a median of $61,780 a year ($29.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 390 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,780 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $67,890. Pennsylvania ranks 15th of 26 states for rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay. There are 0.07 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $68,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,770 | $29.22 |
| 25th percentile | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| Median | $61,780 | $29.70 |
| 75th percentile | $74,900 | $36.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,780 | $41.72 |
| Average (mean) | $68,660 | $33.01 |
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 | $5,148.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,574.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,376.15 |
| Weekly | $1,188.08 |
| Hourly | $29.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,780 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania 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 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $52,350 | $25.17 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $54,780 | $26.34 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $57,400 | $27.60 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $60,780 | $29.22 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $48,290 | $23.22 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,580 | $23.36 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $59,720 | $28.71 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $54,480 | $26.19 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $84,400 | $40.58 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $79,520 | $38.23 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| Construction Laborer | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Carpenter | $59,370 | $28.54 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Pennsylvania is $61,780 a year, or $29.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Pennsylvania earn at least $86,780 a year. The top 25% earn $74,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,770 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $61,530 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in Pennsylvania?
About 390 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.