Derrick hand vs derrick operator

The differences between derrick hands and derrick operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a derrick hand and a derrick operator. Additionally, a derrick operator has an average salary of $40,206, which is higher than the $38,109 average annual salary of a derrick hand.

The top three skills for a derrick hand include flow lines, tongs and fall protection. The most important skills for a derrick operator are derricks, safety regulations, and cranes.

Derrick hand vs derrick operator overview

	Derrick Hand	Derrick Operator
Yearly salary	$38,109	$40,206
Hourly rate	$18.32	$19.33
Growth rate	1%	7%
Number of jobs	5,225	29,659
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 62%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Derrick hand vs derrick operator salary

Derrick hands and derrick operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Derrick Hand	Derrick Operator
Average salary	$38,109	$40,206
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $48,000	Between $30,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between derrick hand and derrick operator education

There are a few differences between a derrick hand and a derrick operator in terms of educational background:

	Derrick Hand	Derrick Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 62%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Journalism And Mass Communications
Most common college	-	-

Derrick hand vs derrick operator demographics

Here are the differences between derrick hands' and derrick operators' demographics:

	Derrick Hand	Derrick Operator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 97.7% Female, 2.3%	Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 1.2% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 1.2% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between derrick hand and derrick operator duties and responsibilities

Derrick hand example responsibilities.

Provide leadership and guidance to direct reports, and manage their efforts to maximize their contribution to operational effectiveness and performance.
strip on bop, go into the derrick, come out of hole with tubing.
Complete first aid and H2S awareness.
Watch H2S levels when on gas locations.
Operate and service the bridge cranes and relate hoisting equipment.
Drill wells, track BHA's tallies, rig equipment and personnel.

Derrick operator example responsibilities.

Manage and perform rig operations, repair large mud pump motors, hoppers, shakers, generators, valves and agitators.
Inspect derricks and order their inspection, prior to being raise and lower.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Operate tools such as hoists and saws.

Derrick hand vs derrick operator skills

Common derrick hand skills

Flow Lines, 15%
Tongs, 9%
Fall Protection, 9%
Drilling Fluid, 7%
Derricks, 5%
Drill Pipe, 5%

Common derrick operator skills

Derricks, 33%
Safety Regulations, 30%
Cranes, 17%
Pulleys, 7%
Tongs, 7%
Hand Tools, 6%