Lease operator vs rig operator

The differences between lease operators and rig operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a lease operator and a rig operator. Additionally, a rig operator has an average salary of $38,713, which is higher than the $25,625 average annual salary of a lease operator.

The top three skills for a lease operator include OTR, CDL and tractor trailer. The most important skills for a rig operator are CDL, productivity standards, and customer satisfaction.

Lease operator vs rig operator overview

	Lease Operator	Rig Operator
Yearly salary	$25,625	$38,713
Hourly rate	$12.32	$18.61
Growth rate	-7%	-
Number of jobs	33,754	30,722
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 57%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	2	2

What does a lease operator do?

A lease operator is responsible for inspecting the efficiency and optimal performance of equipment and machinery and measuring the oil from the operation of the wells. Lease operators report the inconsistencies and failures of the equipment for immediate repair and replacement to avoid delays and prevent potential hazards. They ensure that the extraction process adheres to strict protocols and environmental regulations. A lease operator must have comprehensive knowledge of computer systems, especially on reporting the amount of natural oil and gas digitally.

What does a rig operator do?

A drill rig operator drills holes on the ground for different purposes. There are different types of rig operators depending on what they drill. There are rotary drill operators who drill oil and gas, and there is the rig operator who drills sewer holes and boreholes, among others. Their duties and responsibilities include receiving instructions on the drilling parameters and other procedures, checking and setting up equipment required for drilling, and offering assistance to other crew members.

Lease operator vs rig operator salary

Lease operators and rig operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Lease Operator	Rig Operator
Average salary	$25,625	$38,713
Salary range	Between $5,000 And $109,000	Between $28,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between lease operator and rig operator education

There are a few differences between a lease operator and a rig operator in terms of educational background:

	Lease Operator	Rig Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 57%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Lease operator vs rig operator demographics

Here are the differences between lease operators' and rig operators' demographics:

	Lease Operator	Rig Operator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5%	Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 1.2% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 24.6% Asian, 1.2% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between lease operator and rig operator duties and responsibilities

Lease operator example responsibilities.

Manage and maintain GPS and other equipment.
Perform, supervise, and manage explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operations.
Manage smart pig cleaning and maintenance schedule for all assign areas of responsibility.
Submit daily production reports using eVin data entry program, and various other reports as needed.
Perform field activities on the pipeline facilities including: corrosion control, dehydration, measurement, and overall system integrity.
Enter daily production values into EVIN.

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Rig operator example responsibilities.

Perform maintenance and repair of equipment including welding and fabrication of augers and drill bits.
Train in H2S regulation and prevention.
Regulate boiler blow down, backwash and clean condensers.
Log and sample soil, rock and water for environmental and geotechnical analysis.
Control power hoisting equipment to pull casing, tubing, and rods from production wells.
Operate a 3 man pulling unit, operate a reverse unit, run packers, and daily reports

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Lease operator vs rig operator skills

Common lease operator skills

OTR, 13%
CDL, 11%
Tractor Trailer, 9%
Production Equipment, 9%
Oil Gas, 4%
Mechanical Problems, 4%

Common rig operator skills

CDL, 22%
Productivity Standards, 16%
Customer Satisfaction, 11%
Efficient Maintenance, 8%
Well Control, 6%
Work Ethic, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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