Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Tulsa, OK
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn a median of $56,160 a year ($27.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,870 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $67,890. Pay here is 2% higher than the Oklahoma statewide median of $55,160. There are 0.48 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Tulsa, OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| 25th percentile | $51,070 | $24.55 |
| Median | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| 75th percentile | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,870 | $39.36 |
| Average (mean) | $60,790 | $29.22 |
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 | $4,680 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,340 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,160 |
| Weekly | $1,080 |
| Hourly | $27.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,160 salary, see how much house you can afford in Oklahoma at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $55,160 | 1,040 |
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 Oklahoma statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tulsa, OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $62,110 | $29.86 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $48,330 | $23.23 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $55,390 | $26.63 |
| Construction Laborer | $43,200 | $20.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,000 | $36.06 |
| Electrician | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Carpenter | $46,810 | $22.51 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $46,770 | $22.49 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $61,890 | $29.76 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $42,670 | $20.51 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Tulsa, OK
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 Tulsa, OK?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in the Tulsa, OK metro area is $56,160 a year, or $27.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Tulsa, OK?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn at least $81,870 a year. The top 25% earn $64,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Tulsa, OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,630 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $51,070 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in Tulsa, OK?
About 220 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in the Tulsa, OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.