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Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas earn a median $58,160 a year in the U.S., with 43,140 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $58,160 a year
- Employment
- 43,140
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +1.1%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 3,800
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $58,160 · $27.96 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $62,470 · $30.04 an hour (estimate error ±1.3%)
- 10th percentile
- $38,940 · $18.72 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $47,480 · $22.83 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $73,230 · $35.21 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $97,560 · $46.90 an hour
- Employment
- 43,140 (estimate error ±3.6%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. Includes fishing-tool technicians.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 43,800
- Projected for 2035
- 44,300
- Change
- +500 (+1.1%)
- Openings each year
- 3,800
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 0.5%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
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| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $106,480 | 1,090 |
| 2 | Missouri | $90,580 | 80 |
| 3 | Montana | $77,750 | 310 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $64,990 | 2,600 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $62,990 | 30 |
| 6 | California | $62,580 | 2,820 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $62,560 | 820 |
| 8 | Florida | $62,050 | 200 |
| 9 | Ohio | $61,260 | 930 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $60,810 | 3,000 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 16,820 | $49,820 |
| Louisiana | 3,130 | $60,760 |
| North Dakota | 3,000 | $60,810 |
| Oklahoma | 2,980 | $56,680 |
| Colorado | 2,930 | $60,290 |
| California | 2,820 | $62,580 |
| New Mexico | 2,600 | $64,990 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,520 | $54,780 |
| Alaska | 1,090 | $106,480 |
| Utah | 1,060 | $56,290 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $95,370 | 100 |
| 2 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $76,980 | 280 |
| 3 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $66,220 | 1,060 |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,140 | 430 |
| 5 | Casper, WY | $64,680 | 180 |
| 6 | Farmington, NM | $64,500 | 590 |
| 7 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $62,260 | 950 |
| 8 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $62,170 | 1,360 |
| 9 | Tulsa, OK | $62,110 | 350 |
| 10 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $61,570 | 160 |
| 11 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,870 | 640 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $60,260 | 910 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,400 | $49,940 |
| Midland, TX | 3,460 | $49,470 |
| Odessa, TX | 1,730 | $49,080 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,360 | $62,170 |
| Greeley, CO | 1,070 | $51,650 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,060 | $66,220 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 950 | $62,260 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 910 | $60,260 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 710 | $59,520 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 640 | $60,870 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 610 | $49,250 |
| Farmington, NM | 590 | $64,500 |
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas pay by state
Related occupations
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators
- Roof Bolters, Mining
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
- Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other
- Rock Splitters, Quarry
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
- Helpers--Extraction Workers
Frequently asked questions
- How much do service unit operators, oil and gas make?
- The median wage for service unit operators, oil and gas in the U.S. is $58,160 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,480 and $73,230.
- Which state pays service unit operators, oil and gas the most?
- Alaska has the highest median wage for this occupation at $106,480 a year.
- What is the job outlook for service unit operators, oil and gas?
- BLS projects employment to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,800 openings each year on average.
- What education do service unit operators, oil and gas need?
- The typical entry-level education is: no formal educational credential.