Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas salary in Alaska
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas in Alaska earn a median of $78,050 a year ($37.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,490 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $58,620. Alaska ranks 2nd of 19 states for derrick operators, oil and gas pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.52 derrick operators, oil and gas per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 7.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $77,570, close to the median.
Pay range for derrick operators, oil and gas in Alaska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| 25th percentile | $62,500 | $30.05 |
| Median | $78,050 | $37.53 |
| 75th percentile | $87,790 | $42.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,490 | $44.95 |
| Average (mean) | $77,570 | $37.29 |
Half of derrick operators, oil and gas earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,504.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,252.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,001.92 |
| Weekly | $1,500.96 |
| Hourly | $37.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for derrick operators, oil and gas
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $86,980 |
| Alaska | $78,050 |
| Wyoming | $76,750 |
| North Dakota | $71,850 |
| Florida | $64,950 |
| Colorado | $64,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,720 |
| New Mexico | $59,570 |
| Oklahoma | $58,270 |
| Utah | $56,980 |
Related jobs in Alaska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $106,480 | $51.19 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $60,810 | $29.23 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $80,040 | $38.48 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $74,680 | $35.90 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $85,470 | $41.09 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $48,820 | $23.47 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $106,840 | $51.36 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $93,130 | $44.77 |
| Construction Laborer | $58,060 | $27.91 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $77,810 | $37.41 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $102,140 | $49.10 |
| Carpenter | $73,860 | $35.51 |
| Electrician | $89,440 | $43.00 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $93,920 | $45.15 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Alaska
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a derrick operators, oil and gas make in Alaska?
The median salary for derrick operators, oil and gas in Alaska is $78,050 a year, or $37.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid derrick operators, oil and gas make in Alaska?
The top 10% of derrick operators, oil and gas in Alaska earn at least $93,490 a year. The top 25% earn $87,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for derrick operators, oil and gas in Alaska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,400 a year, and a quarter of derrick operators, oil and gas earn $62,500 or less.
How many derrick operators, oil and gas work in Alaska?
About 170 derrick operators, oil and gas are employed in Alaska, not counting the self-employed.