Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Farmington, NM make a median of $62,730 a year, or about $30.16 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.71), which stretches that salary to about $71,520 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 26.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $63K get you in Farmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Farmington’s Regional Price Parity (87.71). 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 Farmington
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay in Farmington tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.71 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in metros near Farmington, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $79K | $81K |
| Oklahoma City | $55K | $61K |
| Midland | $78K | $82K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $81K | $79K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Farmington, NM
Entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $36K 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 Farmington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rotary drill operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Farmington?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 25.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/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 Farmington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rotary drill operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,881/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Farmington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Farmington compare to the national average for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
Farmington pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Farmington, NM?
The median is $62,730 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,010, and experienced rotary drill operators, oil and gas can clear $84,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Farmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,197/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 25.9% 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 Farmington?
Farmington has a Regional Price Parity of 87.71 (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 $71,520 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.