FederalPay.org
Drill Rig Operator - Federal Salaries of 2022
Pay Rates for "Drill Rig Operator"
How much does a Drill Rig Operator in the federal government get paid? $65,468.80* *Based on the 2022 average.Drill Rig Operator was the 433rd most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2022, with 35 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2022, the Bureau of Reclamation hired the most employees titled Drill Rig Operating, with an average salary of $65,993.
Government Drill Rig Operating jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Drill Rig Operating job is FWS-8, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-11. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This standard covers nonsupervisory work involved in moving in, setting up, operating, maintaining, and moving out heavy mobile drill rigs and associated tools and equipment which are used for geologic drilling at field locations. The work requires knowledge of the operating characteristics of core, churn, calyx, auger, or probe type drill rigs and tools; and skill in manipulating controls to adjust to any drilling condition.
Agencies that have hired a Drill Rig Operator
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Reclamation | 26 | $65,993.12 |
| Geological Survey | 9 | $63,954.11 |
Drill Rig Operator Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Drill Rig Operator is $65,468.80. The highest paid Drill Rig Operator made $117,644 in 2022.
Common Drill Rig Operator Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Drill Rig Operating Employees |
|---|---|
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 19 |
| WB - Wage Positions Under The Federal Wage System Not Otherwise Designated | 10 |
| BB - Nonsupervisory - Negotiated Pay Employees | 4 |
| WS - Supervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 2 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $10.68 to $28.58 / hour at paygrade FWS-8 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $12.06 to $34.60 / hour at paygrade FWS-11 |
| Occupation Family: | TRANSPORTATION/MOBILE EQUIPMENT OPERATION FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-8 Paygrade
FWS-8 is the starting paygrade for Drill Rig Operating jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-8 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler Plant Operating | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Upholstering | FWS-7 | FWS-9 |
| Electronic Industrial Controls Mechanic | FWS-8 | FWS-12 |
| Heating and Boiler Plant Equipment Mechanic | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Plumbing | FWS-7 | FWS-9 |
Average Drill Rig Operating Pay Trend from 2004 to 2022
In 2004, the average pay for a Drill Rig Operator was $43,682. Since then, the average pay has increased to $65,469 in 2022.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 5729.