Oil and Gas Derrick Operators in Texas

Want to work in Texas as an Oil and Gas Derrick Operator? Read this first!

You’re in luck! Jobs for Oil and Gas Derrick Operators in Texas are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.

• Projected employment for Oil and Gas Derrick Operators in Texas is growing faster than average.

• Oil and Gas Derrick Operators in Texas earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

What Major Will Prepare You For an Oil and Gas Derrick Operator Career?

• Construction Trades
• Plumbing & Water Supply
• Well Drilling/Driller

How Many Oil and Gas Derrick Operators Work in Texas?

In 2018, there were 5,570 Oil and Gas Derrick Operators working in the state.

There were 3,890 Oil and Gas Derrick Operators employed in this state in 2017.

That’s growth of 1,680 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

The typical state has 255 Oil and Gas Derrick Operators working in it, which means Texas has more Oil and Gas Derrick Operators than average.

Job Projections for Texas

Jobs for Oil and Gas Derrick Operators in this state are growing at a rate of 16.5% which is slower than the nationwide estimated projection of 25.2%.

Texas Annual Job Openings

The BLS estimates 640 annual job openings, and a total of 5,160 jobs for Texas Oil and Gas Derrick Operators in 2026.

Nationwide, the prediction is 1,800 annual jobs and 13,900 total jobs in 2026.

What do Oil and Gas Derrick Operators Make in Texas?

In 2018 wages for Oil and Gas Derrick Operators ranged from $31,770 to $62,340 with $43,870 being the median annual salary.

Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $15.27 to $29.97. The median hourly rate was $21.09.

In 2017 the median pay for this field was $20.74 an hour.

The hourly rate grew by $0.35.

The median salary in Texas is higher than the nationwide median salary.

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Top Texas Metros for Oil and Gas Derrick Operators

The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Oil and Gas Derrick Operators.

Metro	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	2,100	$45,560
Midland, TX	530	$47,160
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	440	$44,300
Odessa, TX	310	$39,850
Corpus Christi, TX	120	$47,120
Abilene, TX	50	$38,210

Top States for Oil and Gas Derrick Operators Employment

The table below shows the states where most Oil and Gas Derrick Operators work.

State	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Texas	5,570	$43,870
New Mexico	1,140	$46,480
Oklahoma	980	$47,890
California	680	$50,770
North Dakota	650	$59,960
Louisiana	350	$45,770
Wyoming	260	$55,860
Colorado	250	$53,090
Pennsylvania	240	$47,610
Mississippi	160	$44,050
Alaska	120	$55,150
Kansas	70	$39,290
Arkansas	70	$39,750
Michigan	50	$42,000

Below are the states where Oil and Gas Derrick Operators get paid the most:

State	Annual Median Salary
North Dakota	$59,960
Wyoming	$55,860
Alaska	$55,150
Colorado	$53,090
California	$50,770
Montana	$48,110
Oklahoma	$47,890
Pennsylvania	$47,610
New Mexico	$46,480
Louisiana	$45,770

Related Careers in Texas

You may also be interested in the following careers:

Occupation	Texas Employment Total
Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining	24,050
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas	6,850

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• Image Credit: By Tomwsulcer under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.