47 Series · SOC 47-5011
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $58,620
- Median / year
- $81,800
- Top 10% earn
- +0.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 10,590
- US workers
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas earn a median of $58,620 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $58,620, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $43,380 (10th percentile) to $81,800 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 10,590 US workers. Louisiana pays the most ($86,980), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas earn a median of $58,620, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 45% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #25 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 0.5% by 2033.
- $58,620
- Median annual wage
- Top 55%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #25 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Louisiana at $86,980. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (SOC 47-5011) pays a national median of $58,620 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $43,380 at the 10th percentile to $81,800 at the 90th, with a mean of $60,210 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 10,590 Americans work in this occupation across 19 reporting states and 30 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 12.4 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Louisiana pays the highest state median at $86,980, which is +48% above the national figure. The top metro is Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area at $81,800 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$58,620
per year
Median Hourly
$28.18/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$60,210
average
Employment
10,590
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$58,620 Bottom 45% higher than 45% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas sits on the slower-growing side at +0.5% growth and $58,620 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+0.5%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
12.4/100K
Injury Rate
3.5/100
Danger Index
20.2/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
- ▸ Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.
- ▸ Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
- ▸ Repair pumps, mud tanks, and related equipment.
- ▸ Set and bolt crown blocks to posts at tops of derricks.
- ▸ Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
- ▸ Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings.
- ▸ Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices.
- ▸ Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them.
- ▸ Guide lengths of pipe into and out of elevators.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$43,380
25th Percentile
$49,880
Median
$58,620
75th Percentile
$71,610
90th Percentile
$81,800
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 19 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | $86,980 | +48% above national |
| 2 | Alaska | $78,050 | +33% above national |
| 3 | Wyoming | $76,750 | +31% above national |
| 4 | North Dakota | $71,850 | +23% above national |
| 5 | Florida | $64,950 | +11% above national |
| 6 | Colorado | $64,730 | +10% above national |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $59,720 | +2% above national |
| 8 | New Mexico | $59,570 | +2% above national |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $58,270 | 1% below national |
| 10 | Utah | $56,980 | 3% below national |
| 11 | Texas | $56,100 | 4% below national |
| 12 | California | $55,480 | 5% below national |
| 13 | Ohio | $50,650 | 14% below national |
| 14 | West Virginia | $50,640 | 14% below national |
| 15 | Arkansas | $50,070 | 15% below national |
| 16 | Alabama | $49,350 | 16% below national |
| 17 | Mississippi | $47,340 | 19% below national |
| 18 | Illinois | $45,900 | 22% below national |
| 19 | Michigan | $45,180 | 23% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 30 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $81,800 | +40% above national |
| 2 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $78,870 | +35% above national |
| 3 | Casper, WY | $76,840 | +31% above national |
| 4 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $71,850 | +23% above national |
| 5 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $71,350 | +22% above national |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $69,700 | +19% above national |
| 7 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $64,000 | +9% above national |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $63,190 | +8% above national |
| 9 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $62,910 | +7% above national |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $62,370 | +6% above national |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,350 | 2% below national |
| 12 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $56,870 | 3% below national |
| 13 | Midland, TX | $56,120 | 4% below national |
| 14 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $55,710 | 5% below national |
| 15 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $55,240 | 6% below national |
| 16 | Greeley, CO | $55,040 | 6% below national |
| 17 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $54,860 | 6% below national |
| 18 | Odessa, TX | $53,130 | 9% below national |
| 19 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $52,780 | 10% below national |
| 20 | Farmington, NM | $52,640 | 10% below national |
| 21 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $51,500 | 12% below national |
| 22 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $50,970 | 13% below national |
| 23 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $50,710 | 13% below national |
| 24 | Abilene, TX | $50,650 | 14% below national |
| 25 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $50,330 | 14% below national |
| 26 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $48,880 | 17% below national |
| 27 | Lubbock, TX | $47,690 | 19% below national |
| 28 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $47,470 | 19% below national |
| 29 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $47,340 | 19% below national |
| 30 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $44,190 | 25% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 47 (construction and extraction) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $71,610/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Louisiana leads at $86,980/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.