Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Charleston, WV make a median of $51,380 a year, or about $24.7 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.72), which stretches that salary to about $57,913 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,036/month, about 30.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (88.72). 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 Charleston
Pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Charleston runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,036/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.72 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in metros near Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Canton-Massillon | $64K | $71K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston, WV
Entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $31K 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
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 Charleston numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rotary drill operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston?
Yes — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,036/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rotary drill operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,560/month. At HUD’s $1,036/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 rotary drill operators, oil and ga a high-paying job in Charleston?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $51K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Charleston compare to the national average for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
Charleston pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.72), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Charleston, WV?
The median is $51,380 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,670, and experienced rotary drill operators, oil and gas can clear $73,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,462/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,036/month, which eats 29.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary go in Charleston?
Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 88.72 (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 $57,913 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.