Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration. The role reports a median annual salary of $65,010 in the US and is projected to grow 20% over the next decade (much faster than average). Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.45 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Instructing.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £38,301 a year for Mining and quarry workers and related operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8132). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Plant and machine operators and assemblers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Rotary drill operators, oil and gas, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 8. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Public Safety and Security
- Chemistry
- Transportation
What you'd actually do
- 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.
- Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
- 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.
- Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Rotary drill operators, oil and gas do?
Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
How much does Rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn?
The median annual salary for Rotary drill operators, oil and gas in the US is $65,010.
What is the job outlook for Rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
The role is projected to grow 20% over the next decade (much faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 13,300 workers.
How do I become rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Rotary drill operators, oil and gas need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Instructing, Active Listening. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Rotary drill operators, oil and gas?
Our AI-durability model gives Rotary drill operators, oil and gas a score of 0.45 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.