Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas salary in the U.S.
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas in the U.S. earn a median of $58,160 a year ($27.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 43,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,560 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $62,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for service unit operators, oil and gas in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,940 | $18.72 |
| 25th percentile | $47,480 | $22.83 |
| Median | $58,160 | $27.96 |
| 75th percentile | $73,230 | $35.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,560 | $46.90 |
| Average (mean) | $62,470 | $30.04 |
Half of service unit 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 | $4,846.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,423.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,236.92 |
| Weekly | $1,118.46 |
| Hourly | $27.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,160 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $106,480 | 1,090 |
| Missouri | $90,580 | 80 |
| Montana | $77,750 | 310 |
| New Mexico | $64,990 | 2,600 |
| Nebraska | $62,990 | 30 |
| California | $62,580 | 2,820 |
| Wyoming | $62,560 | 820 |
| Florida | $62,050 | 200 |
| Ohio | $61,260 | 930 |
| North Dakota | $60,810 | 3,000 |
| Louisiana | $60,760 | 3,130 |
| Colorado | $60,290 | 2,930 |
| Indiana | $56,980 | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $56,680 | 2,980 |
| Utah | $56,290 | 1,060 |
| West Virginia | $56,250 | 580 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,780 | 1,520 |
| Michigan | $52,000 | 230 |
| South Dakota | $49,920 | 40 |
| Texas | $49,820 | 16,820 |
| Mississippi | $49,610 | 250 |
| Alabama | $49,490 | 170 |
| Arkansas | $48,120 | 220 |
| Kansas | $46,230 | 370 |
| New York | $45,750 | 100 |
| Illinois | $41,680 | 220 |
| Kentucky | $28,280 | 210 |
Best-paying metro areas for service unit operators, oil and gas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $95,370 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $91,890 | 40 |
| Cheyenne, WY | $81,590 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $76,980 | 280 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $66,550 | 90 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $66,220 | 1,060 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,140 | 430 |
| Casper, WY | $64,680 | 180 |
| Farmington, NM | $64,500 | 590 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $62,260 | 950 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $62,170 | 1,360 |
| Tulsa, OK | $62,110 | 350 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $61,570 | 160 |
| Williamsport, PA | $61,280 | 80 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,870 | 640 |
Metro areas with the most service unit operators, oil and gas
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,400 | $49,940 |
| Midland, TX | 3,460 | $49,470 |
| Odessa, TX | 1,730 | $49,080 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,360 | $62,170 |
| Greeley, CO | 1,070 | $51,650 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,060 | $66,220 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 950 | $62,260 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 910 | $60,260 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 710 | $59,520 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 640 | $60,870 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 610 | $49,250 |
| Farmington, NM | 590 | $64,500 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 590 | $47,650 |
| Longview, TX | 530 | $46,280 |
| Lafayette, LA | 500 | $47,020 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $46,960 | $22.58 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $57,010 | $27.41 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,740 | $23.44 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $70,130 | $33.72 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5013. 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 service unit operators, oil and gas make in the U.S.?
The median salary for service unit operators, oil and gas in the U.S. is $58,160 a year, or $27.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid service unit operators, oil and gas make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of service unit operators, oil and gas in the U.S. earn at least $97,560 a year. The top 25% earn $73,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for service unit operators, oil and gas in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,940 a year, and a quarter of service unit operators, oil and gas earn $47,480 or less.
How many service unit operators, oil and gas work in the U.S.?
About 43,140 service unit operators, oil and gas are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.