Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
The median pay for a derrick operators, oil and gas in Illinois is $45,900/year ($22.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $48,908 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 44.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Illinois. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $46K get you in Illinois?
About derrick operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Illinois
Pay for derrick operators, oil and gas in Illinois runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,407/month, which is 46.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for derrick operators, oil and gass.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level derrick operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a derrick operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 46.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new derrick operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,901/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 74% 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 Illinois?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $46K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for derrick operators, oil and gas?
Illinois pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make in Illinois?
The median is $45,900 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,690, and experienced derrick operators, oil and gas can clear $55,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,054/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 46.1% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $48,908 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.