Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in South Carolina
Want to work as a Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas in South Carolina? Below are the key facts. 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. Excludes “Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas” (47-5023).
What do Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Make in South Carolina?
The rotary drill operators, oil and gas working in South Carolina, the typical annual salary is $50,850 per year (or about $24.45/hour).Annual wages span from $46,340 at the 10th percentile to $69,550 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| 25th percentile | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| Median (50th) | $50,850 | $24.45 |
| 75th percentile | $64,570 | $31.05 |
| 90th percentile | $69,550 | $33.44 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in South Carolina relative to the national average — is 0.19, meaning fewer rotary drill operators, oil and gas per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, rotary drill operators, oil and gas earn a median of $69,933 per year ($33.62/hour), below the South Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 374,803 rotary drill operators, oil and gas nationwide. In South Carolina alone, about 40 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 190 rotary drill operators, oil and gas.
Top States for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Employment
These states have the highest employment of rotary drill operators, oil and gas work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 5,940 |
| Oklahoma | 1,570 |
| Louisiana | 1,140 |
| New Mexico | 650 |
| Pennsylvania | 440 |
| California | 410 |
| North Dakota | 280 |
| West Virginia | 260 |
| Wyoming | 230 |
| Colorado | 200 |
| Utah | 200 |
| Mississippi | 190 |
| Alaska | 170 |
| Ohio | 160 |
| Kansas | 160 |
| Kentucky | 120 |
| Florida | 110 |
| Michigan | 100 |
| Alabama | 90 |
| North Carolina | 70 |
Highest-Paying States for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
These states pay the most for rotary drill operators, oil and gas.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $99,470 |
| Alaska | $86,750 |
| New Mexico | $85,540 |
| Minnesota | $79,760 |
| Alabama | $77,240 |
| Colorado | $76,290 |
| Arizona | $75,540 |
| Florida | $75,410 |
| North Dakota | $69,560 |
| Utah | $68,660 |
Skills
Key rotary drill operators, oil and gas skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for rotary drill operators, oil and gas, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, rotary drill operators, oil and gas typically:
- 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.
- Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
- Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well.
- Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools.
- Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud.
- Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.
- Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools.
Work Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Training and Teaching Others
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Plumbing & Water Supply
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like rotary drill operators, oil and gas include:
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Also Known As
Blast Driller, Cable Driller, Cable Tool Driller, Cable Tool Operator, Clean Out Driller, Core Drill Operator, Core Driller, Daylight Driller, Derrickhand, Directional Drill Operator, Directional Driller, Drill Hand, Drill Operator, Driller, Drilling Field Operator.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-5012.00
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