Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Drill operator salary
Average drill operator salary
$44,948
Understanding Drill Operator Salaries
The average salary for a drill operator is $44,948 annually, translating to about $22 per hour. Salaries can differ significantly across various states and industries. For instance, regions with high demand for drilling operations often pay more, highlighting the importance of location. In states like Texas and Alaska, drill operators frequently earn higher wages compared to those in other regions.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level positions may start lower, while seasoned professionals can command significantly higher wages. Additionally, industries such as oil and gas extraction typically offer better compensation compared to other sectors.
Career Opportunities
Drill operators enjoy a range of employment opportunities, from working in mining operations to construction projects. Understanding salary estimates and industry trends is vital for job seekers aiming to navigate their career paths effectively. Resources like job boards and salary calculators can provide valuable insights into available positions and potential earnings.
Let Zippia find your next drill operator job
Let Zippia find your next drill operator job
Where can a Drill Operator earn more?
Drill operator salary estimates from across the web
Average drill operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for drill operators are Texas, Washington, and Colorado. The lowest average drill operator salary states are Georgia, Idaho, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for drill operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $49,932 | $24.01 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $48,277 | $23.21 |
| 3 | Texas | $54,457 | $26.18 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $46,588 | $22.40 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $47,723 | $22.94 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $46,180 | $22.20 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $44,162 | $21.23 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $50,252 | $24.16 |
| 9 | Washington | $50,595 | $24.32 |
| 10 | Colorado | $50,280 | $24.17 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $45,974 | $22.10 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $47,975 | $23.06 |
| 13 | Virginia | $48,744 | $23.43 |
| 14 | Utah | $43,151 | $20.75 |
| 15 | Alaska | $43,474 | $20.90 |
| 16 | Nevada | $44,836 | $21.56 |
| 17 | Iowa | $42,353 | $20.36 |
| 18 | Maine | $44,070 | $21.19 |
| 19 | Alabama | $43,597 | $20.96 |
| 20 | Kansas | $42,147 | $20.26 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| 22 | Oregon | $47,121 | $22.65 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $40,453 | $19.45 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $41,186 | $19.80 |
| 25 | Illinois | $42,195 | $20.29 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $39,502 | $18.99 |
| 27 | California | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| 28 | Arizona | $42,678 | $20.52 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $41,790 | $20.09 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $41,753 | $20.07 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $39,318 | $18.90 |
| 32 | Missouri | $41,309 | $19.86 |
| 33 | Indiana | $38,884 | $18.69 |
| 34 | Delaware | $41,815 | $20.10 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $39,636 | $19.06 |
| 36 | Ohio | $36,731 | $17.66 |
| 37 | Michigan | $38,985 | $18.74 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $40,629 | $19.53 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $40,872 | $19.65 |
| 40 | Vermont | $38,907 | $18.71 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $35,348 | $16.99 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $32,991 | $15.86 |
| 43 | Georgia | $31,850 | $15.31 |
| 44 | Montana | $29,633 | $14.25 |
| 45 | Idaho | $31,266 | $15.03 |
| 46 | Florida | $32,750 | $15.75 |
| 47 | New York | $37,423 | $17.99 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $32,622 | $15.68 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $29,205 | $14.04 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $28,886 | $13.89 |
| 51 | Maryland | $28,608 | $13.75 |
Highest paying cities for drill operators
The highest-paying cities for drill operators are Houston, TX, Lakewood, CO, and Minneapolis, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $54,710 | $26.30 |
| 2 | Lakewood, CO | $50,348 | $24.21 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,985 | $24.03 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $48,763 | $23.44 |
| 5 | Mooresville, NC | $48,208 | $23.18 |
| 6 | Morgantown, WV | $48,168 | $23.16 |
| 7 | Worcester, MA | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| 8 | Dubuque, IA | $42,392 | $20.38 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $42,278 | $20.33 |
| 10 | West Chicago, IL | $42,249 | $20.31 |
| 11 | Kansas City, KS | $42,070 | $20.23 |
| 12 | Joplin, MO | $41,369 | $19.89 |
| 13 | Fayetteville, AR | $39,759 | $19.11 |
| 14 | Lebanon, TN | $39,468 | $18.98 |
| 15 | Troy, MI | $38,965 | $18.73 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,804 | $18.66 |
| 17 | Barberton, OH | $36,806 | $17.70 |
| 18 | Greenville, SC | $33,086 | $15.91 |
| 19 | Clearwater, FL | $33,067 | $15.90 |
| 20 | Tulsa, OK | $32,544 | $15.65 |
Drill operator salary details
A drill operator's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $59,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a drill operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| Average | $44,948 | $3,746 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying drill operator jobs
The highest paying types of drill operators are directional driller, oil driller, and core driller.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directional Driller | $54,153 | $4,513 | $26.04 | 911 |
| Equipment Operator | $31,739 | $2,645 | $15.26 | 62,473 |
| Machine Operator | $32,874 | $2,740 | $15.80 | 96,834 |
| Driller | $49,896 | $4,158 | $23.99 | 1,593 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Drilling Rig Operator | $44,739 | $3,728 | $21.51 | 34,198 |
Top companies hiring drill operators now:
Which companies pay drill operators the most?
Drill operator salaries at Sanmina and Lippert Components are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average drill operator salary at companies like MDU Resources and Michels are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanmina | $48,781 | $23.45 |
| 2 | Lippert Components | $48,473 | $23.30 |
| 3 | MDU Resources | $47,769 | $22.97 |
| 4 | Michels | $47,696 | $22.93 |
| 5 | Pall | $47,086 | $22.64 |
| 6 | Danaher | $46,843 | $22.52 |
| 7 | Martin Marietta | $46,785 | $22.49 |
| 8 | Kinross Gold | $46,668 | $22.44 |
| 9 | TCS Communications | $45,886 | $22.06 |
| 10 | The Walsh Group | $45,859 | $22.05 |
| 11 | Precision Castparts | $45,779 | $22.01 |
| 12 | Walsh Electric | $44,645 | $21.46 |
| 13 | Star Construction Management | $44,512 | $21.40 |
| 14 | Trillium Staffing | $44,464 | $21.38 |
| 15 | MasTec | $44,226 | $21.26 |
| 16 | Southeast Connections | $44,114 | $21.21 |
| 17 | Rogers Group | $44,064 | $21.18 |
| 18 | NPL Construction Co. | $43,803 | $21.06 |
| 19 | Henkels & Mccoy Group Inc | $43,683 | $21.00 |
| 20 | RGA Environmental, A Terracon Company | $43,606 | $20.96 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Drill Operator salary by industry
The average drill operator salary varies across industries:
- The average drill operator salary in the energy industry is $45,734, the highest of any industry.
- The average drill operator salary in the finance industry is $44,950.
- Drill operators in the automotive industry earn an average salary of $42,168, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for drill operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $45,734 | $21.99 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| 3 | Construction | $43,827 | $21.07 |
| 4 | Agriculture | $42,259 | $20.32 |
| 5 | Automotive | $42,168 | $20.27 |
High paying drill operator jobs
Drill operator salary trends
The average drill operator salary has risen by $2,096 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average drill operator earned $42,852 annually, but today, they earn $44,948 a year. That works out to a -1% change in pay for drill operators over the last decade.
Compare drill operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average drill operator salary over time
Compare drill operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Drill operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,900 | $21.61 | -2.2% |
| 2024 | $45,900 | $22.08 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $44,900 | $21.60 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | $45,100 | $21.67 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | $45,500 | $21.85 | +0.2% |
Recently added drill operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSCG | Directional Drill Operator | Beaumont, TX | 06/27/2025 | $58,436 |
| Telforce Group LLP | OSP Equipment/Drill Operators-Telecom | Nashville, TN | 06/27/2025 | $58,436 |
| RBC Bearings | Machinist/Gundrill Operator-2Nd Shift | Torrance, CA | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Aerotek | Directional Drill Operator | Cohoes, NY | 06/26/2025 | $62,610 |
| RBC | Machinist/Gundrill Operator-2Nd Shift | Torrance, CA | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Tak Communications, Inc. | Directional Drill Operator, Telecommunication (CDL Perrferred) | Little Rock, AR | 06/26/2025 | $52,175 |
| Tak Broadband | Directional Drill Operator, Telecommunication (CDL Perrferred) | Little Rock, AR | 06/26/2025 | $52,175 |
| Telforce Group LLP | OSP UG Drill Operators/Cdl | Akron, OH | 06/26/2025 | $52,175 |
| Lightspeed Construction Group | Directional Drill Operator | Beaumont, TX | 06/26/2025 | $58,436 |
| Greenlight Networks | Directional Drill Operator-Underground Construction | Rochester, NY | 06/25/2025 | $48,001 |
Drill operator salary FAQs
Search for drill operator jobs