SOC 47-5011 · Construction and Extraction Occupations
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries
Nationally, derrick operators, oil and gas earned a median of $58,620 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 10,590 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.
National pay distribution
Pay by state
Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.
| State | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $86,980 | $41.82 | 890 | 0.5 |
| Alaska | $78,050 | $37.53 | 170 | 0.5 |
| Wyoming | $76,750 | $36.90 | 140 | 0.5 |
| North Dakota | $71,850 | $34.55 | 490 | 1.1 |
| Florida | $64,950 | $31.23 | 60 | 0.0 |
| Colorado | $64,730 | $31.12 | 290 | 0.1 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,720 | $28.71 | 140 | 0.0 |
| New Mexico | $59,570 | $28.64 | 880 | 1.0 |
| Oklahoma | $58,270 | $28.01 | 580 | 0.3 |
| Utah | $56,980 | $27.39 | 80 | 0.0 |
| Texas | $56,100 | $26.97 | 5,810 | 0.4 |
| California | $55,480 | $26.67 | Not published | Not published |
| Ohio | $50,650 | $24.35 | 120 | 0.0 |
| West Virginia | $50,640 | $24.35 | 60 | 0.1 |
| Arkansas | $50,070 | $24.07 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Alabama | $49,350 | $23.72 | Not published | Not published |
| Mississippi | $47,340 | $22.76 | 200 | 0.2 |
| Illinois | $45,900 | $22.07 | Not published | Not published |
| Michigan | $45,180 | $21.72 | 40 | 0.0 |
Pay by metro area
All 14 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.
Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.
| Metro area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | $76,840 | $36.94 | 30 | 0.8 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $69,700 | $33.51 | 70 | 0.0 |
| Tyler, TX | $63,190 | $30.38 | 120 | 1.1 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $62,910 | $30.25 | 1,560 | 0.5 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $62,370 | $29.99 | 260 | 0.4 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $57,350 | $27.57 | Not published | Not published |
| Midland, TX | $56,120 | $26.98 | 580 | 4.8 |
| Greeley, CO | $55,040 | $26.46 | 90 | 0.8 |
| Odessa, TX | $53,130 | $25.54 | 390 | 4.8 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $52,780 | $25.38 | Not published | Not published |
| Farmington, NM | $52,640 | $25.31 | 180 | 3.8 |
| Abilene, TX | $50,650 | $24.35 | 40 | 0.5 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $48,880 | $23.50 | 160 | 0.1 |
| Lubbock, TX | $47,690 | $22.93 | 120 | 0.7 |
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.