Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
The median pay for a derrick operators, oil and gas in Mississippi is $47,340/year ($22.76/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $53,251 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,077/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Mississippi. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $47K get you in Mississippi?
About derrick operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Mississippi
Pay for derrick operators, oil and gas in Mississippi runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,077/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Mississippi
Entry-level derrick operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $40K 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 Mississippi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a derrick operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mississippi?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 34.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/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 Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new derrick operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,240/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Mississippi?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $47K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for derrick operators, oil and gas?
Mississippi pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make in Mississippi?
The median is $47,340 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,340, and experienced derrick operators, oil and gas can clear $77,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,154/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 34.1% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $53,251 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.