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Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in Bakersfield, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in Bakersfield, CA have a median annual salary of $75,660, with 190 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $49,870 at the 10th percentile to $124,270 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$75,660

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$36.37

Employment

190

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$49,870
10th
$59,710
25th
$75,660
Median
$108,850
75th
$124,270
90th

Local compared with national

Bakersfield, CA

$75,660

Median annual · 2025

United States

$67,890

Median annual · 2025

The Bakersfield, CA median is 11.4% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $7,770).

Top skills

  1. 1.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.6
  2. 2.Operations MonitoringImportance 3.6
  3. 3.Operation and ControlImportance 3.6
  4. 4.MonitoringImportance 3.5
  5. 5.Active ListeningImportance 3.4
  6. 6.InstructingImportance 3.4
  7. 7.SpeakingImportance 3.3
  8. 8.CoordinationImportance 3.3
  9. 9.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.1
  10. 10.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.1
  11. 11.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.1
  12. 12.WritingImportance 3.0

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Less than a High School Diploma
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • CAPSHER Technology SureTec
  • Drillingsoftware DrillPro
  • Drillingsoftware Tubular Database
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Word
  • Pason WellView Field Solution
  • Python
  • Salesforce software
  • SAP software
  • Schlumberger Petrel E&P
  • Structure query language SQL

Common tasks

  • Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables.
  • Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
  • Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
  • Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
  • Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
  • Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
  • Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
  • Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
  • Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.
  • Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas salary in other locations

Other occupations in Bakersfield, CA