Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Texas
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Texas earn a median of $77,840 a year ($37.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,980 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,470 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $67,890. Texas ranks 5th of 26 states for rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.42 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $78,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| 25th percentile | $60,770 | $29.21 |
| Median | $77,840 | $37.43 |
| 75th percentile | $86,630 | $41.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,470 | $58.40 |
| Average (mean) | $78,700 | $37.84 |
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 | $6,486.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,243.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,993.85 |
| Weekly | $1,496.92 |
| Hourly | $37.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $77,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $81,360 | 470 |
| Tyler, TX | $79,640 | 80 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,450 | 2,100 |
| Midland, TX | $78,260 | 490 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $63,310 | 90 |
| Odessa, TX | $59,560 | 230 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $57,700 | 40 |
| Abilene, TX | $56,540 | 50 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $49,820 | $23.95 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $56,100 | $26.97 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $58,700 | $28.22 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $61,290 | $29.46 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $56,600 | $27.21 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $48,950 | $23.53 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $47,310 | $22.75 |
| Construction Laborer | $40,620 | $19.53 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $74,520 | $35.83 |
| Electrician | $58,570 | $28.16 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $50,460 | $24.26 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Texas is $77,840 a year, or $37.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Texas?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Texas earn at least $121,470 a year. The top 25% earn $86,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,840 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $60,770 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in Texas?
About 5,980 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.