Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Michigan make a median of $54,020 a year, or about $25.97 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $57,535 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 35.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Michigan. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $54K get you in Michigan?
About rotary drill operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for rotary drill operators, oil and gas in Michigan runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $68K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,272/month, which is 35.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Michigan
Entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $63K 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 Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rotary drill operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 35.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rotary drill operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,455/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Michigan?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $54K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
Michigan pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in Michigan?
The median is $54,020 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,910, and experienced rotary drill operators, oil and gas can clear $103,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,596/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 35.4% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $57,535 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.