Rack drill pipe up high
On rigs with manual pipe handling, you guide upright drill pipe into its rack high above the floor.
Career profile
Oil and Gas Derrick Operator
Derrick operators keep drill pipe moving and drilling mud circulating on oil and gas rigs.
You work between the tall derrick and the mud pumps. It suits people who enjoy machines, stay focused and coordinate hands-on work with the crew.
A day in the life
Run the mud pumps
Run the pumps that send drilling mud down the pipe, cooling the bit and lifting rock cuttings away.
Test and adjust the mud
Measure the mud's weight and thickness first, then blend in clay, water and additives to adjust them.
Fix worn or faulty pump parts
You listen for odd pump sounds and check vibration, then fix any worn or faulty equipment.
Write up the mud report
Fill in the mud report, giving the crew a written record of the fluid's condition from your checks.
Quick facts
Learn on the job
United States · 2025–2035
$58,620/year
United States · May 2025
1.6% growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Learn on the jobNo formal educational credential is typical; employers may require a diploma or related experience.
Pay
$58,620/yearNational median for derrick operators, equivalent to $28.18 an hour.
Outlook
1.6% growthAbout 900 openings a year are projected nationally, including replacement openings.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like figuring out why a machine sounds or behaves differently.
- You can repeat checks without letting your attention drift.
- You prefer physical work that depends on clear communication.
Things to weigh
- Climbing, noise, heavy equipment, and outdoor weather make this physically demanding work.
- Remote and offshore assignments can mean weeks away from home and long shifts.
Where AI may help
On equipped rigs, powered machines transfer and rack pipe. Automated controls can coordinate pipe movements and track where individual sections are located.
What people still lead
Operators still oversee the surrounding operation and control its pace and execution, even when machines perform the movement sequence.
What we can’t predict yet
How much pipe handling remains manual will depend on the rig and future upgrades. The balance between climbing, operating controls, and watching machinery may keep changing.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use the national figures as a starting point. When comparing offers, ask about the hourly rate, scheduled hours, and how overtime is paid.
The national pay range
The median was $58,620 a year, or $28.18 an hour. The 10th–90th percentile range was $43,380–$81,800 annually. These are wage-distribution points, not starting and senior pay rates.
Openings despite slow growth
Employment is projected to grow 1.6% over 2025–2035, with about 900 openings annually from growth and replacement needs. Openings are not all newly created jobs.
Getting started
Start on the rig floor
- What the route involves
- Enter as a floorhand, maintaining the rig floor and helping the derrickhand and other crew members.
- What it can lead to
- Build familiarity with drilling equipment and crew routines toward taking on derrickhand responsibilities.
Build experience as a roustabout
- What the route involves
- Clean equipment, organize tools, and help assemble or repair oilfield equipment in a role that typically accepts beginners.
- What it can lead to
- Gain related experience that can help you qualify for derrick-operator work.
Build rig experience before taking on derrick work. You learn from experienced workers, and the driller directs derrick operations. Check each employer’s education and safety-training requirements.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn your rig’s pipe-handling equipment and mud-system checks until the routines become dependable.
Build troubleshooting skill
Get better at connecting changing fluid readings or pump behavior to the checks and repairs needed.
Work toward driller
With further training and experience, aim for driller responsibilities: operating drilling controls and supervising the crew.
Where you can work
Land drilling rigs
You may travel long distances to a remote rig and stay in a work camp. Rotating shifts shape both your workday and time away.
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Travel
- Shift work
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Offshore rigs
Assignments can involve weeks offshore with long daily shifts. Pipe handling may use mechanized racks and transfer systems, depending on the rig.
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Travel
- Shift work
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Sketch a drilling-fluid loop: tank, pump, drill pipe, bit, and return to the surface. Mark where you would want a reading or observation to notice a change. Does tracing a moving system hold your interest?
Stay safe: Keep this a paper exercise; it is not a guide to operating rig equipment.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas — 47-5011.00. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Oil and Gas Workers — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national estimates, SOC 47-5011. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Projections Table 1.2, 2025–2035 — SOC 47-5011. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Ensign Energy Services. Oilfield Jobs in U.S.. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- Patterson-UTI. A Day in the Life — Floorhand. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- NOV. Pipe Handling Systems. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- NOV. Pipe-Handling Automation. Accessed 2026-10-09.