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Rig hand salary
Average rig hand salary
$16.27
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Average rig hand salary by state
Highest paying states for rig hands
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $42,202 | $20.29 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $36,843 | $17.71 |
| 3 | Iowa | $37,026 | $17.80 |
| 4 | California | $40,904 | $19.67 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $33,570 | $16.14 |
| 6 | Colorado | $37,968 | $18.25 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $33,122 | $15.92 |
| 8 | Utah | $34,734 | $16.70 |
| 9 | Delaware | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $33,911 | $16.30 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $37,614 | $18.08 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $38,243 | $18.39 |
| 13 | Idaho | $38,014 | $18.28 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $32,709 | $15.73 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $38,406 | $18.46 |
| 16 | Vermont | $37,555 | $18.06 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $32,427 | $15.59 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $36,902 | $17.74 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $32,116 | $15.44 |
| 20 | Texas | $31,470 | $15.13 |
| 21 | Maine | $34,175 | $16.43 |
| 22 | Arizona | $32,817 | $15.78 |
| 23 | Oregon | $32,965 | $15.85 |
| 24 | Montana | $30,567 | $14.70 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $31,428 | $15.11 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $29,775 | $14.31 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $31,032 | $14.92 |
| 28 | Ohio | $30,848 | $14.83 |
| 29 | Washington | $32,047 | $15.41 |
| 30 | New York | $31,333 | $15.06 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $30,924 | $14.87 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $32,930 | $15.83 |
| 33 | Illinois | $30,909 | $14.86 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $31,213 | $15.01 |
| 35 | Maryland | $32,222 | $15.49 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $29,782 | $14.32 |
| 37 | Missouri | $30,269 | $14.55 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $32,924 | $15.83 |
| 39 | Kansas | $30,324 | $14.58 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $29,637 | $14.25 |
| 41 | Indiana | $29,082 | $13.98 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $27,731 | $13.33 |
| 43 | Alaska | $27,097 | $13.03 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $29,564 | $14.21 |
| 45 | Virginia | $30,632 | $14.73 |
| 46 | Michigan | $28,915 | $13.90 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $28,719 | $13.81 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $27,019 | $12.99 |
| 49 | Alabama | $28,125 | $13.52 |
| 50 | Florida | $25,598 | $12.31 |
| 51 | Georgia | $26,793 | $12.88 |
Rig hand salary details
A rig hand's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $42,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a rig hand's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $33,851 | $2,821 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying rig hand jobs
The highest paying types of rig hands are derrickman, galley hand, and roughneck.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roustabout | $31,841 | $2,653 | $15.31 | 2,055 |
| Galley Hand | $47,014 | $3,918 | $22.60 | 4,239 |
| Floor Hand | $36,554 | $3,046 | $17.57 | 21,924 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Rig hand salary trends
The average rig hand salary has risen by $5,530 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average rig hand earned $28,321 annually, but today, they earn $33,851 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for rig hands over the last decade.
Compare rig hand salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average rig hand salary over time
Compare rig hand salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Rig hand salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,900 | $16.27 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $33,400 | $16.06 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $32,300 | $15.51 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $31,700 | $15.26 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | $32,100 | $15.42 | +2.2% |
Recently added rig hand salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerotek | Roustabout/Rig Hand | Cadiz, OH | 03/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| Aerotek | Rig Hand/Roustabout | Meadville, PA | 03/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| Dole Enterprises Inc. | Rig Hand Experience REQ | Bakersfield, CA | 01/08/2025 | $41,740 |
| Hydro Resources, Inc. | Rig Hand | Nome, TX | 09/26/2024 | $35,479 |
| Hydro Resources | Rig Hand | Creedmoor, TX | 08/26/2024 | $14,348 |
| Dole Enterprises Inc. | Rig Hand | Bakersfield, CA | 07/12/2024 | $41,740 |
| Dole Enterprises Inc. | Rig Hand | Bakersfield, CA | 07/12/2024 | $41,740 |
| Your Smartsource | Rig Hand-Water Well Drilling Company | El Paso de Robles, CA | 12/05/2023 | $41,740 |
| Elite Recruiting & Consulting Services | Rig Hand | Miami, FL | 11/21/2023 | $41,740 |
Rig hand salary FAQs
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