Careers / Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$58,620
United States, 2025
Employment
10,590
United States, 2025
Typical education
Less than a High School Diploma
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.
- O*NET code
- 47-5011.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Typical tasks
- Set and bolt crown blocks to posts at tops of derricks.
- Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings.
- Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
- Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
- Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
- Prepare mud reports, and instruct crews about the handling of any chemical additives.
- Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices.
- Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$43,380
25th percentile
$49,880
75th percentile
$71,610
90th percentile
$81,800
Most important skills
- Operations Monitoring4.0
- Operation and Control3.9
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Repairing3.4
- Speaking3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Troubleshooting3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Active Listening3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Equipment Maintenance3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 14 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
14
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.0 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.9 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Repairing | 3.4 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.4 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Active Listening | 3.3 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | 2.6 | Not selected | 2.6 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Derrick Operators, Oil and GasHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA | $86,980 | 890 | 2025 |
| AK | $78,050 | 170 | 2025 |
| Casper, WY | $76,840 | 30 | 2025 |
| WY | $76,750 | 140 | 2025 |
| ND | $71,850 | 490 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $69,700 | 70 | 2025 |
| FL | $64,950 | 60 | 2025 |
| CO | $64,730 | 290 | 2025 |
| Tyler, TX | $63,190 | 120 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | $62,910 | 1,560 | 2025 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $62,370 | 260 | 2025 |
| PA | $59,720 | 140 | 2025 |
| NM | $59,570 | 880 | 2025 |
| OK | $58,270 | 580 | 2025 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $57,350 | — | 2025 |
| UT | $56,980 | 80 | 2025 |
| Midland, TX | $56,120 | 580 | 2025 |
| TX | $56,100 | 5,810 | 2025 |
| CA | $55,480 | — | 2025 |
| Greeley, CO | $55,040 | 90 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.