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Derrickhand: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$58,620median pay per year, or $28.18 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $43,380lowest 10% earn less
  2. $49,88025th percentile
  3. $58,620median
  4. $71,61075th percentile
  5. $81,800top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Derrick operators in oil and gas earned a median of $58,620 a year in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. No formal education is typically needed, and the skills are learned on the job[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.6%[6]
Openings per year
900[7]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[3]

How much do derrick operators make?

The median wage was $58,620 a year, or $28.18 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $60,210 a year, or $28.95 an hour[8]. For all occupations the median was $50,980[2].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $43,380 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $49,880[5]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $71,610, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $81,800[5]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $20.86 and the 90th was $39.33[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits[11]. Only 0.5% of derrick operators were self-employed in 2025[12].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[5] $43,380
Median[1] $58,620
90th percentile[5] $81,800

Pay by state and city

BLS published state figures for 19 states[13]. Louisiana had the highest median wage at $86,980, followed by Alaska at $78,050 and Wyoming at $76,750[13]. North Dakota ($71,850) and Florida ($64,950) came next[13]. Michigan had the lowest published median at $45,180[13].

Texas had the most jobs, 5,810, then Louisiana with 890, New Mexico with 880, Oklahoma with 580 and North Dakota with 490[14]. Texas had a median of $56,100[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Tyler, TX led at $63,190[15]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ($62,910) and Oklahoma City, OK ($62,370) followed[15]. The metro with the most jobs was Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, with 1,560 jobs, then Midland, TX with 580[16].

Show median pay in 19 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Louisiana[13]$86,980890
Alaska$78,050170
Wyoming$76,750140
North Dakota$71,850490
Florida$64,95060
Colorado$64,730290
Pennsylvania$59,720140
New Mexico$59,570880
Oklahoma$58,270580
Utah$56,98080
Texas$56,1005,810
California$55,480n/a
Ohio$50,650120
West Virginia$50,64060
Arkansas$50,07050
Alabama$49,350n/a
Mississippi$47,340200
Illinois$45,900n/a
Michigan$45,18040

How to become a derrick operator

The training details below come from a profile that covers a wider group of oil and gas occupations[17].

In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 69% said less than a high school diploma was required and 23% said a high school diploma or equivalent[23]. The survey is small, so treat these shares as a rough guide.

Useful qualities include comfort at heights, clear communication with the crew and attention to detail[24][25][26].

What derrick operators do

These workers rig derrick equipment and run pumps that circulate drilling fluid through the hole[27]. Common tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as derrick hand, derrickman, floor hand and rig hand[29].

Where they work

These details describe the wider group of oil and gas workers[17]. They often travel, sometimes to remote areas, and work outdoors in all weather[30]. Some work at great heights or in tight spaces, and the jobs can be physically demanding and noisy[30]. Workers usually wear protective gear such as hardhats, harnesses and steel-toed shoes[31].

Most work full time, and some put in over 40 hours in a week[32]. Crews on offshore rigs or at remote sites may be away from home for weeks at a time, working long shifts[32]. Support activities for mining were the largest employer group at 72%[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 10,700 to 10,900 jobs[6]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[34]. So growth is slower than average.

About 900 openings are projected each year[7]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch fields, not only new jobs[7]. Each year, 2.4% of workers leave the labor force and 6.1% move to a different occupation[35].

The projection counts self-employed workers, so its job totals differ from the 10,590 wage and salary jobs counted in May 2025[36][6].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who want to enter without a degree and learn on the job[3][4]. Pay was above the all-occupations median[1][2], and the top 10% earned more than $81,800[5]. The work involves heights, travel and sometimes long shifts away from home[24][30][32]. Growth is slower than average, and the job is small, with about 900 openings a year[34][7]. Pay and job counts differ a lot by state[13][14].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a derrickhand make an hour?
The median for derrick operators was $28.18 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $20.86 and the 90th was $39.33[9].
Do you need a degree to be a derrick operator?
No formal educational credential is typically needed[3]. Some employers want a high school diploma or equivalent[18].
Is derrick operator work in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 1.6% from 2025 to 2035, versus 3.5% for all occupations[6][34]. About 900 openings are projected each year[7].
What is the highest paying state for derrick operators?
Louisiana, with a median of $86,980[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas in the US was $58,620 per year and $28.18 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas: 10th percentile $43,380, 25th percentile $49,880, 75th percentile $71,610, 90th percentile $81,800. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas is projected to grow 1.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 10,700 to 10,900 jobs (a change of +200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 900 openings for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas was $60,210 per year and $28.95 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas: 10th percentile $20.86, 25th percentile $23.98, 75th percentile $34.43, 90th percentile $39.33. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 0.5% of Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas jobs: Texas 5,810; Louisiana 890; New Mexico 880; Oklahoma 580; North Dakota 490. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (areas with at least 100 jobs): Tyler, TX $63,190; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $62,910; Oklahoma City, OK $62,370; Midland, TX $56,120; Odessa, TX $53,130; Farmington, NM $52,640; San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $48,880; Lubbock, TX $47,690. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,560 (median $62,910); Midland, TX 580 (median $56,120); Odessa, TX 390 (median $53,130); Oklahoma City, OK 260 (median $62,370); Farmington, NM 180 (median $52,640); San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 160 (median $48,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Oil and Gas Workers" covers Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 47-5011.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 69%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 23% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 47-5011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Derrick Hand, Derrick Man, Derrick Operator, Derrick Worker, Derrickhand, Derrickman, Floor Hand, Rig Hand. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of oil and gas workers in 2025: Support activities for mining 72%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas: 2.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 10,590 people were employed as Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.