Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas earn a median of $58,620 per year ($28.18/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.6% through 2035, with about 900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 47-5011
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas in four numbers
- Median pay
- $58,620a year, or $28.18/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $43KTop 10% $82K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.6%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 90010,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202510.7K
- Projected 203510.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 10.7K Projected 2035 10.9K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school68.5%
- High school22.9%
- Certificate4.9%
- Associate's3.6%
Highest education held by derrick operators, oil and gas Segment Value Less than high school 68.5% High school 22.9% Certificate 4.9% Associate's 3.6%
Also advertised as: Derrick Hand, Derrick Man, Derrick Operator, Derrick Worker, Derrickhand, Derrickman.
Pay
How much do Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas make?
Every derrick operator, oil and gas in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$58,620
Middle half earn $49,880 to $71,610
- 10th
- $43,380
- 25th
- $49,880
- 75th
- $71,610
- 90th
- $81,800
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $43,380 |
| 25th | $49,880 |
| Median | $58,620 |
| 75th | $71,610 |
| 90th | $81,800 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $58,620
- Median hourly wage
- $28.18/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $60,210
- People employed
- 10,590
Versus all US occupations
At $58,620, Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas earn 15% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,640 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
The median is typical for the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $81,800 or more while the bottom 10% earn $43,380, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 30% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Louisiana pays the most at $86,980, and still leads at $98,609 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Louisiana | $86,980 | $98,609 | 890 |
| 2Alaska | $78,050 | $76,251 | 170 |
| 3Wyoming | $76,750 | $82,802 | 140 |
| 4North Dakota | $71,850 | $80,768 | 490 |
| 5Florida | $64,950 | $62,806 | 60 |
| 6Colorado | $64,730 | $62,813 | 290 |
| 7Pennsylvania | $59,720 | $61,206 | 140 |
| 8New Mexico | $59,570 | $64,601 | 880 |
| 9Oklahoma | $58,270 | $66,334 | 580 |
| 10Utah | $56,980 | $57,635 | 80 |
Job outlook
Is Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | +1.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas to change 1.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 900 openings are projected each year, 8.4% of the 10,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of oil and gas workers is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 9,900 openings for oil and gas workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Domestic oil and gas production is expected to support employment of these workers. In addition to many domestic uses, international demand for oil and gas products is expected to create more opportunities for U.S. producers to export their products abroad.
Getting in
How to become a Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas
Oil and gas workers typically do not need formal education to enter these occupations, but some employers require or prefer that candidates have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Many require work experience in a related occupation. Oil and gas workers learn on the job.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as derrick operators, oil and gas.
- Less than a High School Diploma68.5%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)22.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4.9%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree3.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 68.5% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 22.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.9% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 3.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas do?
Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.
Oil and gas workers assemble, operate, and maintain equipment used for oil and gas exploration, extraction, and related activities.
Day-to-day tasks
- Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them.
- Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
- Repair pumps, mud tanks, and related equipment.
- String cables through pulleys and blocks.
- Steady pipes during connection to or disconnection from drill or casing strings.
- Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
- Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
- Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud, using portable mixers.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most oil and gas workers are full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules vary, depending on the job. Some crews, such as those on offshore oil rigs or in remote areas, may spend weeks away from home and work long shifts 7 days a week. Periods of working nonstandard schedules may be followed by periods of time off.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Speaking3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Active Listening3.3
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Writing2.8
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Active Listening | 3.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring4.0
- Operation and Control3.9
- Repairing3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Troubleshooting3.3
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Equipment Maintenance3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Operation and Control | 3.9 |
| Repairing | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.6
- Investigative2.5
- Enterprising1.6
- Social1.0
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
Rotary Drill Operator, Oil and Gas
$67,890median a year
Most earn $47K to $102K
+0.8%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Construction and Extraction
Service Unit Operator, Oil and Gas
$58,160median a year
Most earn $39K to $98K
+1.1%No formal credential
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with derrick operators, oil and gas highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas$58,620
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas | $58,620 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas appears on
Questions
Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas: frequently asked questions
How much do Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas make?
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas earn a median of $58,620 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 15% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.18/hr. The middle half earn between $49,880 and $71,610. The top 10% earn $81,800 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 68.5% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.6% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas do?
Oil and gas workers assemble, operate, and maintain equipment used for oil and gas exploration, extraction, and related activities. A core O*NET task: supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas the most?
The highest state medians for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas are Louisiana ($86,980), Alaska ($78,050), Wyoming ($76,750) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Derrick Operator, Oil and Gas?
O*NET scores Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.