Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-5012 · O*NET 47-5012.00
Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas fall under the Construction and Extraction category in the U.S. occupational classification. Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas earn a median salary of $65,010 per year, ranking in the top 39% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +0.2% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn?
The median annual wage for rotary drill operators, oil and gas is $65,010. That puts rotary drill operators, oil and gas at #314 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $42,750 |
| 25th percentile | $52,600 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $65,010 |
| 75th percentile | $81,550 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,510 |
| Median hourly wage | $31.26/hr |
Is rotary drill operators, oil and gas a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for rotary drill operators, oil and gas is +0.2%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 13K positions in 2024 to 13K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do rotary drill operators, oil and gas do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working rotary drill operators, oil and gas, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
- 2.Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
- 3.Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
- 4.Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
- 5.Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well.
- 6.Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.
- 7.Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
- 8.Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
Top skills for rotary drill operators, oil and gas
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become rotary drill operators, oil and ga?
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about rotary drill operators, oil and gas
What is the median salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
The median annual salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas is $65,010 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is rotary drill operators, oil and gas a growing career?
BLS projects +0.2% growth for rotary drill operators, oil and gas from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become rotary drill operators, oil and ga?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
Related occupations within the Construction and Extraction category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.