Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas pay range in Odessa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,420 or more. The middle half of rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Odessa earn between $44,930 and $78,720.
- $39K10th
- $45K25th
- $60KMedian
- $79K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,690 | $5,724 | $33.02 |
| Median | $59,560 | $4,963 | $28.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,930 | $3,744 | $21.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,720 | $6,560 | $37.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas pay in Odessa vs. Texas and the U.S.
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Odessa earn 13% less than the Texas average ($78,700) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($72,130). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $67,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa | $68,690 | $59,560 | $39,470 | $99,420 | 230 |
| 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 Odessa
On the average salary of $68,690, a single filer in Odessa takes home about $57,153 a year, or $4,763 a month and $2,198 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Odessa a good place for rotary drill operators, oil and gas? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Odessa area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.9), so the average $68,690 buys what about $73,155 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Odessa ($48,590). A typical home costs $256,700, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in other Texas cities
Odessa ranks 5th 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 Odessa: questions
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make an hour in Odessa?
$33.03 an hour on average, and $28.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary in Odessa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the rotary drill operators, oil and gas take-home pay in Odessa?
About $57,153 a year ($4,763 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,690. Texas has no state income tax.
Do rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn more in Odessa than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Odessa, TX (36220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.5%.
- 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 35.06, this job is 35.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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