Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in West Virginia
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in West Virginia earn a median of $57,020 a year ($27.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,250 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $67,890. West Virginia ranks 21st of 26 states for rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay. There are 0.35 rotary drill operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $57,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| 25th percentile | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| Median | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| 75th percentile | $60,450 | $29.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,250 | $38.58 |
| Average (mean) | $57,540 | $27.66 |
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 | $4,751.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,375.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,193.08 |
| Weekly | $1,096.54 |
| Hourly | $27.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,020 salary, see how much house you can afford in West Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in cities in West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | $51,380 | 30 |
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 West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,950 | $36.04 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $79,400 | $38.17 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $77,570 | $37.29 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $61,330 | $29.49 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $56,250 | $27.04 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $63,550 | $30.55 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $77,180 | $37.11 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $55,540 | $26.70 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $65,610 | $31.54 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $51,300 | $24.66 |
| Construction Laborer | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $80,060 | $38.49 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in West Virginia
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 West Virginia?
The median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in West Virginia is $57,020 a year, or $27.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in West Virginia earn at least $80,250 a year. The top 25% earn $60,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,730 a year, and a quarter of rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn $47,840 or less.
How many rotary drill operators, oil and gas work in West Virginia?
About 240 rotary drill operators, oil and gas are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.