Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
The median pay for a derrick operators, oil and gas in Louisiana is $86,980/year ($41.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $99,656 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 21.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Louisiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $87K get you in Louisiana?
About derrick operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Louisiana sits well above the national pay line for derrick operators, oil and gas, local pay runs about 48% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 21.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Louisiana offers a genuinely strong financial position for derrick operators, oil and gass at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level derrick operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $53K 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 Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a derrick operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 21.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for derrick operators, oil and gas in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new derrick operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,746/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay is 48% above the national median — $87K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for derrick operators, oil and gas?
Louisiana pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +48%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make in Louisiana?
The median is $86,980 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,770, and experienced derrick operators, oil and gas can clear $98,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,538/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 21.5% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $99,656 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.