Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
The median pay for a derrick operators, oil and gas in North Dakota is $71,850/year ($34.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $80,830 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 21.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in North Dakota?
About derrick operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in North Dakota
North Dakota sits well above the national pay line for derrick operators, oil and gas, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, North Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for derrick operators, oil and gass at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level derrick operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $17K 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 North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a derrick operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for derrick operators, oil and gas in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new derrick operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,803/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is derrick operators, oil and ga a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $72K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for derrick operators, oil and gas?
North Dakota pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make in North Dakota?
The median is $71,850 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,380, and experienced derrick operators, oil and gas can clear $80,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,794/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 21.6% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $80,830 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.