Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for service unit operators, oil and gas in the U.S. is $58,160 ($27.96 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $58,160
- Mean annual wage
- $62,470
- Median hourly wage
- $27.96
- Employment
- 43,140
43,140 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,940 | $18.72 |
| 25th percentile | $47,480 | $22.83 |
| Median (50th) | $58,160 | $27.96 |
| 75th percentile | $73,230 | $35.21 |
| 90th percentile | $97,560 | $46.90 |
Highest-paying states for service unit operators, oil and gas
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $106,480 | 1,090 |
| Missouri | $90,580 | 80 |
| Montana | $77,750 | 310 |
| New Mexico | $64,990 | 2,600 |
| Nebraska | $62,990 | 30 |
| California | $62,580 | 2,820 |
| Wyoming | $62,560 | 820 |
| Florida | $62,050 | 200 |
| Ohio | $61,260 | 930 |
| North Dakota | $60,810 | 3,000 |
Lowest-paying states
- Kentucky: $28,280 median annual wage
- Illinois: $41,680 median annual wage
- New York: $45,750 median annual wage
- Kansas: $46,230 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $48,120 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Confer with others to gather information regarding pipe or tool sizes or borehole conditions in wells.
- Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.
- Prepare reports of services rendered, tools used, or time required, for billing purposes.
- Examine unserviceable wells to determine actions to be taken to improve well conditions.
- Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.
- Perforate well casings or sidewalls of boreholes with explosive charges.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: No formal educational credential
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 16.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 45.3% |
| Some college, no degree | 18.5% |
| Associate's degree | 8.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 10.1% |
| Master's degree | 1.2% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.3% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Construction Laborers$47,120
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920
- Electricians$63,190
- Carpenters$60,580
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance$49,400
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,020
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.