Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas pay range in Midland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $108,830 or more. The middle half of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Midland earn between $64,650 and $86,630.
- $52K10th
- $65K25th
- $78KMedian
- $87K75th
- $109K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,720 | $6,727 | $38.81 |
| Median | $78,260 | $6,522 | $37.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,650 | $5,388 | $31.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $86,630 | $7,219 | $41.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas pay in Midland vs. Texas and the U.S.
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Midland earn about the same as the Texas average ($78,700) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $67,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland | $80,720 | $78,260 | $51,790 | $108,830 | 490 |
| Texas | $78,700 | $77,840 | $47,840 | $121,470 | 5,980 |
| United States | $72,130 | $67,890 | $47,010 | $101,860 | 12,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary after taxes in Midland
On the average salary of $80,720, a single filer in Midland takes home about $65,617 a year, or $5,468 a month and $2,524 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Midland a good place for rotary drill operators, oil and gas? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Midland area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $80,720 buys what about $84,274 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Midland ($54,480). A typical home costs $330,428, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in other Texas cities
Midland ranks 3rd of 8 Texas metro areas for this job; Houston pays the most ($88,240).
- Houston$88,240
- Dallas$81,660
- Midland$80,720
- Tyler$74,770
- Odessa$68,690
- San Antonio$68,500
- Wichita Falls$60,910
- Abilene$60,060
Highest-paying cities for rotary drill operators, oil and gas
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($103,520).
- Anchorage, AK$103,520
- Houston, TX$88,240
- Bakersfield, CA$83,290
- Dallas, TX$81,660
- Midland, TX$80,720
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Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Midland: questions
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make an hour in Midland?
$38.81 an hour on average, and $37.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary in Midland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the rotary drill operators, oil and gas take-home pay in Midland?
About $65,617 a year ($5,468 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,720. Texas has no state income tax.
Do rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn more in Midland than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,130).
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 47-5012; area Midland, TX (33260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 49.47, this job is 49.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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