Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.
What it pays
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas earn a median of $28.18/hr — about $58,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.86/hr; the top 10% earn $39.33/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas earn a median of $28.18/hr — about $58,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.86/hr; the top 10% earn $39.33/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
- Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.
- Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
- Repair pumps, mud tanks, and related equipment.
- Set and bolt crown blocks to posts at tops of derricks.
- Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: little or no preparation (Job Zone 1 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 1.4% of derrick operators, oil and gas are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Construction and Building Inspectors
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical
Quick questions
- How much does a derrick operators, oil and ga make?
- The median pay is $28.18 per hour — roughly $58,500 a year, with the real range running from about $20.86/hr (10th percentile) to $39.33/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a derrick operators, oil and ga?
- The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: little or no preparation (Job Zone 1 of 5).
- What does a derrick operators, oil and ga actually do all day?
- Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered. Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions. Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.