Prevailing Wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
Prevailing wage floors for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (SOC 47-5012) are set by DOL and vary by city and experience level. Whether your offer letter says Driller, Drill Operator, or Daylight Driller, the sponsored wage must clear the DOL floor for the worksite location. DOL publishes four experience levels, so the floor shifts significantly from one metro to the next.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level drillers working under close supervision with limited independent decision-making. Candidates typically have fewer than two years of hands-on rig experience and are still developing proficiency with rotary drilling equipment and safety protocols.
Level 2 applies to qualified drillers who work with routine independence on standard drilling assignments. This is the most common filing level for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas, reflecting candidates with two to four years of operational experience and demonstrated equipment competency.
Level 3 covers experienced drill operators who handle complex formations, troubleshoot downhole problems, and may oversee a small crew. These professionals typically bring five or more years of field experience across multiple well types or geographic operating areas.
Level 4 designates fully competent lead drillers with broad authority over rig operations, crew coordination, and decision-making during non-routine drilling events. Employers typically file at this level for senior drillers or rig supervisors with extensive multi-formation experience.
Prevailing Wage for Rotary Drill 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
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
Watch how rig contractors classify your title
Oilfield service companies sometimes file LCAs under a supervisory or technician SOC rather than SOC 47-5012, which can shift the prevailing wage floor entirely. Confirm your offer letter title maps to the Rotary Drill Operators classification before signing.
Account for the Bakersfield-to-Lafayette wage gap
The prevailing wage floor for drilling roles varies dramatically by basin. Bakersfield and Houston set floors well above the national median, while Lafayette, Louisiana posts floors that are substantially lower. Your worksite location on the LCA determines which floor applies, not your employer's headquarters.
Exclude signing bonuses when checking base wage compliance
Drilling contracts sometimes bundle relocation allowances or rig-start bonuses into total compensation. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against the base hourly or annual wage rate, so one-time payments cannot offset a base salary that falls below the L2 or L3 floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find companies that have sponsored drillers
Few oilfield employers have active H-1B or green card sponsorship history for rig-based roles. Migrate Mate shows which companies have previously sponsored Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas, narrowing your search to employers already familiar with the LCA and petition process.
Jobs for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-5012.00 alongside Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Daylight Driller Prevailing Wage
Daylight Driller Prevailing Wage
Daylight Driller positions fall under SOC 47-5012.00 (Rotary Drill 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.
Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
Drill Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Drill Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5012.00 (Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Driller Prevailing Wage
Driller Prevailing Wage
Driller is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5012.00 (Rotary Drill 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.
Drilling Rig Operator Prevailing Wage
Drilling Rig Operator Prevailing Wage
Drilling Rig Operator positions fall under SOC 47-5012.00 (Rotary Drill 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.
Motor Man Prevailing Wage
Motor Man Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Motor Man for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5012.00 (Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Oil Rig Driller Prevailing Wage
Oil Rig Driller Prevailing Wage
Oil Rig Driller is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5012.00 (Rotary Drill 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.
Oil Well Driller Prevailing Wage
Oil Well Driller Prevailing Wage
Oil Well Driller positions fall under SOC 47-5012.00 (Rotary Drill 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.
Relief Driller Prevailing Wage
Relief Driller Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Relief Driller for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5012.00 (Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tool Pusher Prevailing Wage
Tool Pusher Prevailing Wage
Tool Pusher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5012.00 (Rotary Drill 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For each area, DOL calculates four wage levels based on the distribution of reported wages for SOC 47-5012. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored drilling role must offer at least the wage level that matches the candidate's experience and the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
The four levels reflect experience and autonomy. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 is qualified and independent on routine work, which is where most sponsored drilling hires land. Level 3 covers experienced operators handling complex situations. Level 4 is for fully competent senior or lead drillers. Your experience, job duties, and degree of supervision determine the correct level, and USCIS scrutinizes underfiling at Level 1 for candidates with substantial field experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same drilling role differ so much between cities?
DOL calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions drive each metro's figures. Oil-producing areas with dense employer competition, like Bakersfield and Houston, report higher wages than smaller or oversupplied markets like Lafayette. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, which locks in that metro's floor regardless of where the employer is headquartered or where payroll is processed.
What happens if a sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage floor?
OFLC will not certify an LCA if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite and level. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve an H-1B or employment-based green card petition. If a deficiency is discovered after certification, the employer may face back-pay liability and debarment from future sponsorship. The floor is a hard floor, not a guideline.
How do I look up the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this role?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 47-5012 by metropolitan area. Enter the worksite city or MSA, select the occupation code, and the tool returns all four wage levels for that location. Cross-check against your offer letter before the LCA is filed. O*NET also publishes wage ranges for the role, though OFLC Wage Search is the authoritative source for LCA compliance purposes.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas right now.
Search Jobs for this role