Drilling rig operator demographics and statistics in the US
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Drilling rig operator demographics by:
Drilling rig operator gender statistics
3.1% of drilling rig operators are women and 96.9% of drilling rig operators are men.
- Male, 96.9%
- Female, 3.1%
Drilling rig operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 96.9% |
| Female | 3.1% |
Drilling rig operator gender pay gap
Women earn 89¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$46,436
Female income
$41,469
Drilling rig operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in drilling rig operator positions over time. Currently, 3.1% of drilling rig operators are female.
Drilling rig operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 98.22% | 1.78% |
| 2011 | 98.10% | 1.90% |
| 2012 | 98.00% | 2.00% |
| 2013 | 96.78% | 3.22% |
| 2014 | 97.03% | 2.97% |
| 2015 | 96.81% | 3.19% |
| 2016 | 97.67% | 2.33% |
| 2017 | 95.76% | 4.24% |
| 2018 | 97.30% | 2.70% |
| 2019 | 96.58% | 3.42% |
| 2020 | 97.39% | 2.61% |
| 2021 | 96.95% | 3.05% |
Drilling rig operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared drilling rig operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, relief driller and oil field roustabout have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Duck Bill Operator | 25% | 75% |
| Drilling Rig Operator | 97% | 3% |
| Lead Miner, Blasting | 98% | 2% |
| Oil Field Roustabout | 99% | 1% |
| Relief Driller | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Drilling rig operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among drilling rig operators is White, which makes up 63.8% of all drilling rig operators. Comparatively, 19.5% of drilling rig operators are Hispanic or Latino and 9.0% of drilling rig operators are Black or African American.
- White, 63.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 19.5%
- Black or African American, 9.0%
- Unknown, 4.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%
- Asian, 1.2%
Drilling rig operator race
| Drilling rig operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 63.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19.5% |
| Black or African American | 9.0% |
| Unknown | 4.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.3% |
| Asian | 1.2% |
Drilling rig operator race and ethnicity over time
See how drilling rig operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Drilling rig operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 70.72% | 8.72% | 0.39% | 16.52% |
| 2011 | 70.36% | 7.07% | 0.54% | 17.89% |
| 2012 | 69.32% | 8.02% | 0.40% | 18.26% |
| 2013 | 67.53% | 7.75% | 0.52% | 19.35% |
| 2014 | 65.94% | 8.89% | 0.51% | 19.70% |
| 2015 | 68.61% | 8.00% | 0.36% | 19.64% |
| 2016 | 68.16% | 7.70% | 0.62% | 19.91% |
| 2017 | 66.95% | 7.95% | 0.31% | 19.70% |
| 2018 | 72.32% | 7.71% | 0.37% | 15.98% |
| 2019 | 67.26% | 7.45% | 0.66% | 21.22% |
| 2020 | 62.91% | 9.33% | 0.55% | 21.96% |
| 2021 | 63.85% | 9.03% | 1.21% | 19.45% |
Drilling rig operator wage gap by race
According to our data, white drilling rig operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian drilling rig operators have the lowest average salary at $44,146.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $46,267 |
| White | $48,643 |
| Black or African American | $45,952 |
| Asian | $44,146 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $47,291 |
Average drilling rig operator age
See how the average age of drilling rig operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Drilling rig operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| White | 40 | |
| Black or African American | 48 | |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 32 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 |
Drilling rig operator age breakdown
The average age of drilling rig operators is 40+ years years old, representing 49% of the drilling rig operator population.
Drilling rig operator age breakdown
| Drilling Rig Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 49% |
| 30-40 years | 30% |
| 20-30 years | 22% |
Drilling rig operator educational attainment
The most common degree for drilling rig operators is high school diploma, with 49% of drilling rig operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 23% and bachelor's degree degree at 20%.
- High School Diploma, 49%
- Bachelor's, 23%
- Associate, 20%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 2%
Drilling rig operators by degree level
| Drilling rig operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 49% |
| Bachelor's | 23% |
| Associate | 20% |
| Diploma | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 2% |
Drilling rig operator jobs you might like
Drilling rig operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, drilling rig operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $48,836 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, drilling rig operators earn a median annual income of $47,508 compared to $43,608 for drilling rig operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,608 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,508 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $48,836 |
Drilling rig operator employment statistics
Most drilling rig operators work for a private in the energy industry.
Company size where drilling rig operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where drilling rig operators work.
Drilling rig operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 17% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 21% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 14% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 30% |
| > 10,000 employees | 12% |
Drilling rig operator jobs by company type
Employees with the drilling rig operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most drilling rig operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Drilling rig operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Public | 22% |
| Private | 74% |
| Government | 4% |
Drilling rig operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for drilling rig operators are energy, professional and construction.
Drilling rig operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Energy | 21% |
| Professional | 18% |
| Construction | 14% |
| Manufacturing | 10% |
| Technology | 8% |
| Transportation | 4% |
| Government | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 4% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Utilities | 3% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
Drilling rig operator turnover and employment statistics
Drilling rig operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for drilling rig operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Drilling rig operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Drilling rig operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 12.16% |
| 2011 | 8.43% |
| 2012 | 7.78% |
| 2013 | 8.04% |
| 2014 | 6.09% |
| 2015 | 11.90% |
| 2016 | 13.78% |
| 2017 | 6.52% |
| 2018 | 4.80% |
| 2019 | 4.61% |
| 2020 | 12.55% |
| 2021 | 11.41% |
Average drilling rig operator tenure
The average drilling rig operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 331 drilling rig operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Drilling rig operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 14% |
| 1-2 years | 35% |
| 3-4 years | 19% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 12% |
Drilling rig operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of drilling rig operators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Drilling Rig Operator | 2.29% | - |
| Shield Operator | 2.32% | 25,646 |
| Geotechnical Operating Engineer | 2.64% | 14,448 |
| Face Worker | 4.26% | 21,384 |
Similar drilling rig operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Shield Operator | 2.32% | 25,646 |
| Geotechnical Operating Engineer | 2.64% | 14,448 |
| Face Worker | 4.26% | 21,384 |
Foreign languages spoken by drilling rig operators
- Arabic, 50.0%
- Spanish, 50.0%
Drilling rig operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Arabic | 50.0% |
| Spanish | 50.0% |
