Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Tennessee
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Tennessee earn a median of $58,780 a year ($28.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,480 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $67,890. Tennessee ranks 19th of 26 states for rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay. There are 0.01 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.14). The average (mean) salary is $62,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| 25th percentile | $52,700 | $25.34 |
| Median | $58,780 | $28.26 |
| 75th percentile | $69,310 | $33.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,480 | $37.73 |
| Average (mean) | $62,480 | $30.04 |
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 | $4,898.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,449.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,260.77 |
| Weekly | $1,130.38 |
| Hourly | $28.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,780 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,160 | $23.16 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $74,190 | $35.67 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,000 | $21.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $74,470 | $35.81 |
| Electrician | $61,090 | $29.37 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $58,600 | $28.17 |
| Carpenter | $50,830 | $24.44 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $47,910 | $23.04 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $43,230 | $20.78 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Tennessee is $58,780 a year, or $28.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Tennessee earn at least $78,480 a year. The top 25% earn $69,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,470 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $52,700 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in Tennessee?
About 40 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.