Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in Abilene, TX
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Abilene, TX make a median of $53,210 a year, or about $25.58 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.36), which stretches that salary to about $58,887 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month — about 34.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $53K get you in Abilene?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Abilene’s Regional Price Parity (90.36). 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 rotary drill operators, oil and gas
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Abilene, TX
Entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $99K | +53% | 410 |
| Alaska | $87K | +33% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $86K | +32% | 650 |
| Minnesota | $80K | +23% | 50 |
| Alabama | $77K | +19% | 90 |
| Arizona | $76K | +16% | 60 |
| Florida | $75K | +16% | 110 |
| North Dakota | $70K | +7% | 280 |
| Utah | $69K | +6% | 200 |
| Arkansas | $68K | +4% | 30 |
| Texas | $66K | +2% | 5,940 |
| Oklahoma | $65K | +0% | 1,570 |
| Mississippi | $62K | -4% | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $62K | -4% | 440 |
| Ohio | $61K | -6% | 160 |
| Louisiana | $61K | -6% | 1,140 |
| Virginia | $60K | -8% | N/A |
| Kansas | $59K | -10% | 160 |
| West Virginia | $58K | -11% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $57K | -13% | 230 |
| Michigan | $54K | -17% | 100 |
| South Carolina | $51K | -22% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $44K | -32% | 70 |
| Kentucky | $42K | -35% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Abilene, TX?
The median is $53,210 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,120, and experienced rotary drill operators, oil and gas can clear $55,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Abilene?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,733/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 34.2% 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 rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary go in Abilene?
Abilene has a Regional Price Parity of 90.36 (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 rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary is worth about $58,887 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do rotary drill 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.