Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in North Dakota make a median of $71,280 a year, or about $34.27 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $80,189 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 21.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $71K get you in North Dakota?
About rotary drill operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level rotary drill operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $53K 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 North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rotary drill operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/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 North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rotary drill operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,137/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
North Dakota pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do rotary drill operators, oil and gas make in North Dakota?
The median is $71,280 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,280, and experienced rotary drill operators, oil and gas can clear $104,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,762/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 21.7% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $80,189 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.