Rig operator demographics and statistics in the US
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Rig operator demographics by:
Rig operator gender statistics
2.5% of rig operators are women and 97.5% of rig operators are men.
- Male, 97.5%
- Female, 2.5%
Rig operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 97.5% |
| Female | 2.5% |
Rig operator gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$38,865
Female income
$37,368
Rig operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in rig operator positions over time. Currently, 2.5% of rig operators are female.
Rig operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 98.54% | 1.46% |
| 2011 | 98.44% | 1.56% |
| 2012 | 98.35% | 1.65% |
| 2013 | 97.35% | 2.65% |
| 2014 | 97.56% | 2.44% |
| 2015 | 97.38% | 2.62% |
| 2016 | 98.09% | 1.91% |
| 2017 | 96.51% | 3.49% |
| 2018 | 97.78% | 2.22% |
| 2019 | 97.19% | 2.81% |
| 2020 | 97.86% | 2.14% |
| 2021 | 97.49% | 2.51% |
Rig operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared 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% |
| 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%
Rig operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among rig operators is White, which makes up 59.5% of all rig operators. Comparatively, 24.6% of rig operators are Hispanic or Latino and 8.3% of rig operators are Black or African American.
- White, 59.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 24.6%
- Black or African American, 8.3%
- Unknown, 4.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%
- Asian, 1.2%
Rig operator race
| Rig operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 59.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24.6% |
| Black or African American | 8.3% |
| Unknown | 4.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.2% |
| Asian | 1.2% |
Rig operator race and ethnicity over time
See how rig operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Rig operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.37% | 7.98% | 0.38% | 21.67% |
| 2011 | 66.01% | 6.33% | 0.54% | 23.04% |
| 2012 | 64.97% | 7.28% | 0.39% | 23.41% |
| 2013 | 63.18% | 7.01% | 0.51% | 24.50% |
| 2014 | 61.59% | 8.15% | 0.50% | 24.85% |
| 2015 | 64.26% | 7.26% | 0.35% | 24.79% |
| 2016 | 63.81% | 6.96% | 0.61% | 25.07% |
| 2017 | 62.60% | 7.21% | 0.30% | 24.85% |
| 2018 | 67.97% | 6.97% | 0.37% | 21.13% |
| 2019 | 62.91% | 6.71% | 0.66% | 26.37% |
| 2020 | 58.56% | 8.58% | 0.55% | 27.11% |
| 2021 | 59.50% | 8.29% | 1.21% | 24.60% |
Rig operator wage gap by race
According to our data, white rig operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian rig operators have the lowest average salary at $38,121.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $38,550 |
| White | $40,440 |
| Black or African American | $38,365 |
| Asian | $38,121 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $38,890 |
Average rig operator age
See how the average age of rig operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
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 |
Rig operator age breakdown
The average age of rig operators is 40+ years years old, representing 49% of the rig operator population.
Rig operator age breakdown
| Rig Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 49% |
| 30-40 years | 30% |
| 20-30 years | 22% |
Rig operator educational attainment
The most common degree for rig operators is high school diploma, with 57% of rig operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are diploma degree at 13% and diploma degree at 13%.
- High School Diploma, 57%
- Diploma, 13%
- Associate, 13%
- Bachelor's, 10%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Rig operators by degree level
| Rig operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 57% |
| Diploma | 13% |
| Associate | 13% |
| Bachelor's | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Rig operator jobs you might like
Rig operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, rig operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $41,521 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, rig operators earn a median annual income of $40,356 compared to $38,069 for rig operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,069 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $40,356 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $41,521 |
Rig operator employment statistics
Most rig operators work for a private in the energy industry.
Company size where rig operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where rig operators work.
Rig operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 12% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 17% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 32% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 10% |
Rig operator jobs by company type
Employees with the rig operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most rig operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Rig operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 18% |
| Private | 79% |
| Government | 2% |
Rig operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for rig operators are energy, professional and manufacturing.
Rig operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Energy | 16% |
| Professional | 13% |
| Manufacturing | 12% |
| Construction | 9% |
| Retail | 8% |
| Start-up | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Media | 4% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Rig operator turnover and employment statistics
Rig operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for rig operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Rig operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | 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 rig operator tenure
The average rig operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,246 rig operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Rig operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 18% |
| 1-2 years | 31% |
| 3-4 years | 17% |
| 5-7 years | 19% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 9% |
Rig operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rig Operator | 2.29% | - |
| Shield Runner | 2.32% | 13,821 |
| Water Well Driller | 2.64% | 5,032 |
| Shale Planer Operator | 4.26% | 26,010 |
Similar rig operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Shield Runner | 2.32% | 13,821 |
| Water Well Driller | 2.64% | 5,032 |
| Shale Planer Operator | 4.26% | 26,010 |
Foreign languages spoken by rig operators
The most common foreign language among rig operators is Spanish at 81.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Dakota at 12.5% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 6.3%.
- Spanish, 81.3%
- Dakota, 12.5%
- Portuguese, 6.3%
Rig operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 81.3% |
| Dakota | 12.5% |
| Portuguese | 6.3% |
