Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in New Mexico make a median of $82,780 a year, or about $39.8 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $88,953 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in New Mexico?
About rotary drill operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in New Mexico
New Mexico sits well above the national pay line for rotary drill operators, oil and gas, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 21.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, New Mexico offers a genuinely strong financial position for rotary drill operators, oil and gass at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington | $63K | -24% | 60 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rotary drill operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 21.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rotary drill operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,930/month. At HUD’s $1,119/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 New Mexico?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $83K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
New Mexico pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in New Mexico?
The median is $82,780 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,840, and experienced rotary drill operators, oil and gas can clear $101,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,297/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 21.1% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $88,953 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.