Prevailing Wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
The prevailing wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (SOC 47-5011) sets the minimum a U.S. employer must pay when sponsoring a Derrick Hand, Derrick Man, or similar role on an H-1B, E-3, or PERM green card petition. DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on which city the worksite is located in.
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Entry-level Derrick Operators with limited field experience, typically working under direct supervision on routine pump circulation and rig tasks. Workers at this level are still developing independent judgment and have minimal tenure in derrick operations.
Qualified Derrick Operators who handle standard rig derrick and mud-circulation duties with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas, reflecting the practical experience most working derrick hands bring to a sponsored position.
Experienced Derrick Operators who work with significant autonomy, troubleshoot complex drilling fluid issues, and may informally guide less-experienced floor hands. Their tenure and judgment exceed standard qualified performance expectations.
Fully competent Derrick Workers who lead rig derrick operations, set performance standards, and handle the most technically demanding pump and circulation assignments. Employers filing at Level 4 typically justify senior or lead scope in the LCA.
Prevailing Wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for contract-driller wage reporting gaps
Derrick Operators placed through contract drilling companies are frequently filed under a different SOC than direct hires, which can undercut the SOC 47-5011 floor. Confirm the SOC on your LCA matches the actual derrick hand duties in the job description.
Treat Texas basin metros as separate benchmarks
Permian Basin cities like Odessa and Midland pay materially less than DFW or Houston metro areas for the same occupation. Your LCA worksite city determines the floor, so verify the specific metro rather than assuming a statewide Texas rate applies.
Confirm base wages exclude rig allowances
Rig-site per diems, hazard allowances, and offshore premiums do not count toward prevailing wage compliance. DOL measures the base hourly or annual wage only, so a competitive total-compensation package can still fall short of the floor on paper.
Find employers who have sponsored Derrick Operators before
Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can identify which oil-field operators and drilling contractors have actually filed H-1B or PERM petitions for derrick hand roles, narrowing your search to proven sponsors.
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Find Jobs for Derrick Operators, Oil and GasPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-5011.00 alongside Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Derrick Hand Prevailing Wage
Derrick Hand Prevailing Wage
Derrick Hand positions fall under SOC 47-5011.00 (Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Derrick Man Prevailing Wage
Derrick Man Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Derrick Man for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5011.00 (Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Derrick Operator Prevailing Wage
Derrick Operator Prevailing Wage
Derrick Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5011.00 (Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Derrick Worker Prevailing Wage
Derrick Worker Prevailing Wage
Derrick Worker positions fall under SOC 47-5011.00 (Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Floor Hand Prevailing Wage
Floor Hand Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Floor Hand for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5011.00 (Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for each occupation and metropolitan area. For SOC 47-5011, the OFLC assigns four wage levels based on experience, complexity, and supervision, then publishes them in the OFLC Wage Search tool. Employers cite these figures on the Labor Condition Application when sponsoring a worker.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level workers under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified workers handling standard duties independently; Level 3 covers experienced workers with broader judgment and informal leadership; Level 4 covers fully competent workers in senior or lead roles. Your level should match the actual job duties, required experience, and supervision structure described in the LCA, not simply the title on the offer letter.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much from city to city?
DOL calculates wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a national average. The LCA worksite rule requires employers to use the prevailing wage for the city where the derrick operator will actually work. Dense oil-and-gas markets like Houston or Casper have different wage baselines than smaller basins, which is why the floor can differ substantially across metros covered by OES surveys.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition backed by a deficient LCA, and a PERM application can be denied during DOL audit. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the base wage or the position cannot be sponsored through that petition at that wage level.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas position in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up SOC 47-5011 wages by metropolitan area. Select the occupation code, choose the relevant metro, and review all four wage levels. You can also check the O*NET profile for SOC 47-5011 to confirm the occupation scope matches your duties. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored job listings by location and employer sponsorship history so you can cross-reference postings against the DOL floor for your target city.
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