Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Arkansas make a median of $37,700 a year, or about $18.12 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $43,017 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 39.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $38K get you in Arkansas?
About rotary drill operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Arkansas runs about 44% below the U.S. median of $68K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 39.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for rotary drill operators, oil and gass.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rotary drill operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 39.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rotary drill operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,246/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is rotary drill operators, oil and ga a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 44% below the national median — $38K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
Arkansas pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Arkansas?
The median is $37,700 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,430, and experienced rotary drill operators, oil and gas can clear $74,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,586/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 39.5% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $43,017 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.