Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Colorado make a median of $79,830 a year, or about $38.38 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Colorado?
About rotary drill operators, oil and gas
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary by metro in Colorado
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction | $69K | -13% | 30 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rotary drill operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 23.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,187/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 Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rotary drill operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,685/month.
Is rotary drill operators, oil and ga a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $80K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
Colorado pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +18%.
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Colorado?
The median is $79,830 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,410, and experienced rotary drill operators, oil and gas can clear $92,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,086/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,187/month, which eats 23.3% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median rotary drill operators, oil and gas salary is worth about $79,830 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.