Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,180 or more. The middle half of derrick operators, oil and gas in Denver earn between $64,730 and $76,100.
- $51K10th
- $65K25th
- $70KMedian
- $76K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,650 | $5,888 | $33.97 |
| Median | $69,700 | $5,808 | $33.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,730 | $5,394 | $31.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,100 | $6,342 | $36.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Derrick operators, oil and gas in Denver earn 7% more than the Colorado average ($65,740) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($60,210). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $58,620.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $70,650 | $69,700 | $51,140 | $84,180 | 70 |
| Colorado | $65,740 | $64,730 | $47,450 | $79,330 | 290 |
| United States | $60,210 | $58,620 | $43,380 | $81,800 | 10,590 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas salary after taxes in Denver
On the average salary of $70,650, a single filer in Denver takes home about $56,132 a year, or $4,678 a month and $2,159 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for derrick operators, oil and gas? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $70,650 buys what about $66,788 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas salary in other Colorado cities
Denver ranks 1st of 2 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Denver$70,650
- Greeley$52,710
Highest-paying cities for derrick operators, oil and gas
Casper, WY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($77,940).
- Casper, WY$77,940
- Denver, CO$70,650
- Houston, TX$64,080
- Oklahoma City, OK$61,490
- Pittsburgh, PA$60,320
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Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Denver: questions
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make an hour in Denver?
$33.97 an hour on average, and $33.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level derrick operators, oil and gas salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the derrick operators, oil and gas take-home pay in Denver?
About $56,132 a year ($4,678 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,650. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do derrick operators, oil and gas earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($60,210).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-5011; area Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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