Steers oil and gas wells along a planned path deep underground, guiding the drill bit sideways and horizontally to reach precise targets. BLS does not publish separate figures for rotary drill operators, oil and gas; it counts them within rotary drill operator, oil and gas (SOC 47-5012), whose median pay is $67,890 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 47-5012
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Directional Driller in four numbers
- Median pay
- $67,890a year, or $32.64/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $47KTop 10% $102K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.8%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,10012,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202512.7K
- Projected 203512.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 12.7K Projected 2035 12.9K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school31.1%
- High school28.7%
- Certificate9.1%
- Some college22.2%
- Bachelor's8.9%
Highest education held by rotary drill operators, oil and gas Segment Value Less than high school 31.1% High school 28.7% Certificate 9.1% Some college 22.2% Bachelor's 8.9%
Also advertised as: Directional Drilling Specialist, DD, Directional Drilling Engineer, Horizontal Driller, Directional Drilling Coordinator.
Pay
How much do Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas make?
Every directional driller in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$67,890
Middle half earn $53,810 to $81,360
- 10th
- $47,010
- 25th
- $53,810
- 75th
- $81,360
- 90th
- $101,860
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,010 |
| 25th | $53,810 |
| Median | $67,890 |
| 75th | $81,360 |
| 90th | $101,860 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $67,890
- Median hourly wage
- $32.64/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $72,130
- People employed
- 12,600
Versus all US occupations
At $67,890, Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas earn 33% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $16,910 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 13% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $101,860 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,010, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 42% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Alaska posts the highest raw median ($85,470), but once local prices are taken into account New Mexico leads at $89,771 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Rotary Drill 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alaska | $85,470 | $83,500 | 130 |
| 2New Mexico | $82,780 | $89,771 | 580 |
| 3Colorado | $79,830 | $77,466 | 110 |
| 4Nebraska | $79,140 | $87,833 | 40 |
| 5Texas | $77,840 | $80,200 | 5,980 |
| 6North Dakota | $71,280 | $80,127 | 230 |
| 7Utah | $70,400 | $71,209 | N/A |
| 8Alabama | $67,400 | $75,881 | 40 |
| 9Mississippi | $67,290 | $77,387 | 130 |
| 10New York | $67,000 | $62,082 | 50 |
Job outlook
Is Directional Driller a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | +0.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas to change 0.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,100 openings are projected each year, 8.7% of the 12,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Directional Driller
Directional drillers are usually employed by oilfield service companies. Many start as measurement-while-drilling field technicians or rig hands and are trained into the directional role, while others come in with degrees in petroleum or mechanical engineering, geology or related fields.
Service companies run internal training programs on their motors and steering tools, and well control certification such as IADC WellSharp is commonly required. Knowledge of drilling engineering, survey calculations and trajectory planning, as described in Society of Petroleum Engineers resources, is the technical core of 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
Moderate-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 rotary drill operators, oil and gas.
- Less than a High School Diploma31.1%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)28.7%
- Some College Courses22.2%
- Post-Secondary Certificate9.1%
- Bachelor's Degree8.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 31.1% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 28.7% |
| Some College Courses | 22.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 9.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 8.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Directional Driller do?
Directional drillers steer wellbores. Most modern oil and gas wells do not go straight down: they curve and run horizontally for long distances through a target rock layer. The directional driller uses downhole motors, rotary steerable systems and survey data from measurement-while-drilling tools to keep the bit on the planned trajectory.
On the rig, they read surveys, calculate the well's position, decide when to slide or rotate, and adjust toolface and drilling parameters with the rig's driller. They work closely with the wellsite geologist and remote operations centers, plan bottom-hole assemblies, and report progress and deviations from plan to the operator.
Day-to-day tasks
- Steer the wellbore along a planned trajectory
- Interpret survey and measurement-while-drilling data
- Calculate well position and projections to target
- Decide when to slide or rotate and set toolface orientation
- Design bottom-hole assemblies with motors or rotary steerable tools
- Coordinate with drillers, geologists and company representatives
- Report well progress and plan changes to the operator
- Troubleshoot downhole tool performance
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Directional drillers work on land rigs and offshore platforms on rotation, often for two or more weeks at a time, with long shifts and on-call nights. Some now work from remote operations centers that steer multiple wells. Field work means remote locations and living in rig camps or offshore quarters.
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 timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending 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 dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
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 Thinking3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Active Listening3.4
- Speaking3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Writing3.0
- Learning Strategies3.0
- Active Learning2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Active Listening | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.6
- Operation and Control3.6
- Instructing3.4
- Coordination3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Equipment Maintenance3.0
- Troubleshooting3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Operation and Control | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Industrial control software
“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 Directional Driller?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIC) built on O*NET's Rotary Drill Operator, Oil and Gas profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Directional Driller |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| 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
- Conventional4.4
- Investigative4.0
- Enterprising2.2
- Social1.2
- 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 Directional Driller
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
Service Unit Operator, Oil and Gas
$58,160median a year
Most earn $39K to $98K
+1.1%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
- Transportation and Material Moving
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with rotary drill operators, oil and gas highlighted
- Directional Driller$67,890
- 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
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Directional Driller | $67,890 |
| 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 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Directional Driller appears on
Questions
Directional Driller: frequently asked questions
How much do Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for rotary drill operators, oil and gas. It counts them within rotary drill operator, oil and gas, whose median pay is $67,890 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $53,810 and $81,360, and the top 10% earn $101,860 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Directional Driller?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists moderate-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, 31.1% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Directional Driller a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.8% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Directional Driller do?
Directional drillers steer wellbores. A typical task: steer the wellbore along a planned trajectory. Employers most often ask for Customer relationship management CRM software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Object or component oriented development software.
Which states pay Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas the most?
The highest state medians for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas are Alaska ($85,470), New Mexico ($82,780), Colorado ($79,830) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, New Mexico moves to the top at $89,771.
What personality type suits a Directional Driller?
O*NET scores Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative 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.