Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Bakersfield-Delano, CA make a median of $75,660 a year, or about $36.37 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.89), that's roughly $74,993 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,483/month, or 30% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $76K get you in Bakersfield-Delano?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bakersfield-Delano’s Regional Price Parity (100.89). 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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What this looks like in Bakersfield-Delano
Bakersfield-Delano sits well above the national pay line for rotary drill operators, oil and gas, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,483/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.89) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $74K 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
View Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $85K | +26% | 130 |
| New Mexico | $83K | +22% | 580 |
| Colorado | $80K | +18% | 110 |
| Nebraska | $79K | +17% | 40 |
| Texas | $78K | +15% | 5,980 |
| North Dakota | $71K | +5% | 230 |
| Utah | $70K | +4% | N/A |
| Alabama | $67K | -1% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $67K | -1% | 130 |
| New York | $67K | -1% | 50 |
| California | $66K | -3% | 460 |
| Ohio | $64K | -6% | 290 |
| Arizona | $63K | -7% | 30 |
| Florida | $62K | -9% | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $62K | -9% | 390 |
| Virginia | $61K | -10% | 110 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -10% | 200 |
| Kansas | $61K | -11% | 130 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -13% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $58K | -15% | 50 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -16% | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $55K | -19% | 1,700 |
| Michigan | $54K | -20% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -27% | 910 |
| Kentucky | $39K | -43% | 30 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -44% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 26 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Bakersfield-Delano numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rotary drill operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bakersfield-Delano?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 30.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,483/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Bakersfield-Delano?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rotary drill operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,992/month. At HUD’s $1,483/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Bakersfield-Delano?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $76K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Bakersfield-Delano compare to the national average for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
Bakersfield-Delano pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The median is $75,660 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,870, and experienced rotary drill operators, oil and gas can clear $124,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Bakersfield-Delano?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,870/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,483/month, which eats 30.5% 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 Bakersfield-Delano?
Bakersfield-Delano has a Regional Price Parity of 100.89 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary is worth about $74,993 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.