# Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

> Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/derrick-operators-oil-and-gas
- SOC code: 47-5011.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $58,620 (10th percentile $43,380, 90th percentile $81,800)
- Projected growth: Slower than average, +1.6%
- Openings a year: 900
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 26 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 11 |
| Conventional (C) | 44 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 88/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 86/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 86/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 85/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 84/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 84/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 83/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Developing and Building Teams (importance 77/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Repairing, Speaking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis, Troubleshooting

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Mathematics, English Language, Education and Training, Public Safety and Security, Transportation, Administration and Management, Building and Construction, Chemistry, Physics

## Also called

Derrick Hand, Derrick Man, Derrick Operator, Derrick Worker, Derrickhand, Derrickman, Floor Hand, Fracturing Derrick Operator, Gas Derrick Operator, Oil Derrick Operator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4605) (CIP 4605, 165 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Ivy Tech Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ivy-tech-community-college-1314) | Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | $94,410 | $93,701 | not reported |
| [New England Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-england-institute-of-technology-1845) | Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | $49,923 | $54,989 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rotary-drill-operators-oil-and-gas): $67,890 median pay
- [Roustabouts, Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/roustabouts-oil-and-gas): $46,960 median pay
- [Helpers--Extraction Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-extraction-workers): $47,730 median pay
- [Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/earth-drillers-except-oil-and-gas): $60,190 median pay
- [Wellhead Pumpers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wellhead-pumpers): $69,960 median pay
- [Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/service-unit-operators-oil-and-gas): $58,160 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.