Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
The median pay for a derrick operators, oil and gas in Casper, WY is $76,840/year ($36.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.83), which stretches that salary to about $81,893 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,082/month, or 20.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $77K get you in Casper?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Casper’s Regional Price Parity (93.83). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About derrick operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Casper
Casper sits well above the national pay line for derrick operators, oil and gas, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,082/month, 20.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.83 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Casper offers a genuinely strong financial position for derrick operators, oil and gass at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for derrick operators, oil and gas in metros near Casper, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greeley | $55K | , |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $70K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Casper, WY
Entry-level derrick operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $87K | +48% | 890 |
| Alaska | $78K | +33% | 170 |
| Wyoming | $77K | +31% | 140 |
| North Dakota | $72K | +23% | 490 |
| Florida | $65K | +11% | 60 |
| Colorado | $65K | +10% | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | +2% | 140 |
| New Mexico | $60K | +2% | 880 |
| Oklahoma | $58K | -1% | 580 |
| Utah | $57K | -3% | 80 |
| Texas | $56K | -4% | 5,810 |
| California | $55K | -5% | N/A |
| Ohio | $51K | -14% | 120 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -14% | 60 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -15% | 50 |
| Alabama | $49K | -16% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $47K | -19% | 200 |
| Illinois | $46K | -22% | N/A |
| Michigan | $45K | -23% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track derrick operators, oil and gas salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Casper numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a derrick operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Casper?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 20.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,082/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for derrick operators, oil and gas in Casper?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new derrick operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,263/month. At HUD’s $1,082/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is derrick operators, oil and ga a high-paying job in Casper?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $77K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Casper compare to the national average for derrick operators, oil and gas?
Casper pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make in Casper, WY?
The median is $76,840 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,050, and experienced derrick operators, oil and gas can clear $84,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Casper?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,204/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,082/month, which eats 20.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a derrick operators, oil and gas salary go in Casper?
Casper has a Regional Price Parity of 93.83 (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 $81,893 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.