Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
The median pay for a derrick operators, oil and gas in Pittsburgh, PA is $57,350/year ($27.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.67), which stretches that salary to about $60,579 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,299/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $57K get you in Pittsburgh?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Pittsburgh’s Regional Price Parity (94.67). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About derrick operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Pittsburgh
Derrick operators, oil and gas pay in Pittsburgh tracks closely to the national median, $57K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,299/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.67 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pittsburgh, PA
Entry-level derrick operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $87K | +48% | 890 |
| Alaska | $78K | +33% | 170 |
| Wyoming | $77K | +31% | 140 |
| North Dakota | $72K | +23% | 490 |
| Florida | $65K | +11% | 60 |
| Colorado | $65K | +10% | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | +2% | 140 |
| New Mexico | $60K | +2% | 880 |
| Oklahoma | $58K | -1% | 580 |
| Utah | $57K | -3% | 80 |
| Texas | $56K | -4% | 5,810 |
| California | $55K | -5% | N/A |
| Ohio | $51K | -14% | 120 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -14% | 60 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -15% | 50 |
| Alabama | $49K | -16% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $47K | -19% | 200 |
| Illinois | $46K | -22% | N/A |
| Michigan | $45K | -23% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track derrick operators, oil and gas salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pittsburgh numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a derrick operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pittsburgh?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 33.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,299/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Pittsburgh?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new derrick operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,246/month. At HUD’s $1,299/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Pittsburgh?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $57K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Pittsburgh compare to the national average for derrick operators, oil and gas?
Pittsburgh pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do derrick operators, oil and gas make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median is $57,350 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,100, and experienced derrick operators, oil and gas can clear $67,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Pittsburgh?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,863/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,299/month, which eats 33.6% 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 Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a Regional Price Parity of 94.67 (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 $60,579 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.