Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
The median pay for a derrick operators, oil and gas in Arkansas is $50,070/year ($24.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $57,131 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 31% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $50K get you in Arkansas?
About derrick operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for derrick operators, oil and gas in Arkansas runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level derrick operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a derrick operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 30.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for derrick operators, oil and gas in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new derrick operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,929/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is derrick operators, oil and ga a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $50K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for derrick operators, oil and gas?
Arkansas pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make in Arkansas?
The median is $50,070 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,820, and experienced derrick operators, oil and gas can clear $61,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,374/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 30.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a derrick operators, oil and gas salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median derrick operators, oil and gas salary is worth about $57,131 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do derrick operators, oil and gas get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.