Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
The median pay for a service unit operators, oil and gas in Texas is $49,820/year ($23.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $54,454 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 39.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Texas?
About service unit operators, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for service unit operators, oil and gas in Texas runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 40.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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 service unit operators, oil and gass.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level service unit operators, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas salary by metro in Texas
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $61K | +22% | 640 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $60K | +21% | 100 |
| Abilene | $59K | +18% | 70 |
| Victoria | $57K | +15% | 310 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $50K | +0% | 5,400 |
| Midland | $49K | -1% | 3,460 |
| Odessa | $49K | -1% | 1,730 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $48K | -4% | 590 |
| Longview | $46K | -7% | 530 |
| Corpus Christi | $46K | -7% | 240 |
| Lubbock | $46K | -8% | 300 |
| Laredo | $45K | -10% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a service unit operators, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 40.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 service unit operators, oil and gas in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new service unit operators, oil and gas typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,254/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 63% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is service unit operators, oil and ga a high-paying job in Texas?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $50K here vs. $58K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for service unit operators, oil and gas?
Texas pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do service unit operators, oil and gas make in Texas?
The median is $49,820 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,560, and experienced service unit operators, oil and gas can clear $79,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,506/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 40.4% 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 service unit operators, oil and gas salary go in Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 service unit operators, oil and gas salary is worth about $54,454 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do service unit 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.