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Skilled Trades

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.

Median salary (BLS)

$67,890

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$47k – $102k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

    Entry / Junior

    $47,010

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

    Established

    $67,890

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

    Senior

    $84,875

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
  • •Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
  • •Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
  • •Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
  • •Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.

Fields of study

Any field

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