Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
The median pay for a derrick operators, oil and gas in Florida is $64,950/year ($31.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $65,886 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 36.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Florida. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $65K get you in Florida?
About derrick operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Florida
Florida sits well above the national pay line for derrick operators, oil and gas, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 36.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level derrick operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track derrick operators, oil and gas salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a derrick operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 36.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new derrick operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,965/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Florida?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $65K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for derrick operators, oil and gas?
Florida pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make in Florida?
The median is $64,950 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,420, and experienced derrick operators, oil and gas can clear $81,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,507/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 36.8% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $65,886 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.