What are the main factors that influence a Drilling Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Drilling Engineer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Drilling Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

How does experience change A Drilling Engineer's salary?

A Drilling Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $100,657 for beginners, reaching about $135,441 at mid-level, and approach $106,744 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Drilling Engineer?

Drilling Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Drilling Engineer roles are District of Columbia $167,497, California $166,862, Massachusetts $164,638. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Drilling Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Drilling Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Drilling Engineer V: $225,929; Senior Drilling Engineer: $194,656; Drilling Engineer IV: $189,179; Drilling Engineer III: $169,949; Oil & Gas Drilling Engineer II: $137,200.

Drilling Engineer Salary in South Dakota

How much does a Drilling Engineer make in South Dakota? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Drilling Engineer in South Dakota is $137,483 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.

However, a Drilling Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $156,208
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $128,084 to $147,285
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $119,527

10% $119,527

50% (Median) $137,483

90% $156,208

Drilling Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$147,285	$12,274	$2,832	$71
Average	$137,483	$11,457	$2,644	$66
25th Percentile	$128,084	$10,674	$2,463	$62

Salary Factors Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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American Airlines – FORT WORTH, TX

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Engineer Engineer II Sr Engineer

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Key Factors That Influence Drilling Engineer Salaries

A Drilling Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Drilling Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Drilling Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $100,657
Early Career (1-2 years): $118,295
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $135,441
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $169,460
Expert (over 8 years): $106,744

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Network Engineer III	less than 1 year	$100,657
Network Engineer IV	1-2 years	$118,295
Drilling Engineer	2-4 years	$135,441
Network Engineer VI	5-8 years	$169,460
Network Engineering Supervisor	over 8 years	$106,744

How Do Drilling Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Drilling Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $167,497.
California: $166,862.
Massachusetts: $164,638.

District of Columbia $167,497 California $166,862 Massachusetts $164,638 Washington $164,033 New Jersey $163,972 Alaska $163,761 Connecticut $161,673 New York $160,826

Hawaii $158,118 Rhode Island $156,847 Maryland $155,985 Minnesota $154,805 Colorado $154,351 Illinois $154,200 Oregon $153,625 Delaware $153,201

New Hampshire $152,935 Virginia $152,339 Pennsylvania $150,599 Nevada $149,722 North Dakota $149,434 Michigan $148,981 Wisconsin $148,814 Vermont $148,481

Texas $147,559 Maine $147,498 Arizona $147,407 Ohio $147,301 Georgia $145,910 Indiana $145,214 Wyoming $145,078 Utah $144,866

Iowa $144,775 Kansas $144,049 Louisiana $143,837 North Carolina $143,761 Missouri $143,731 Florida $143,141 Montana $142,823 Nebraska $142,521

Kentucky $142,354 South Carolina $141,749 Tennessee $141,371 Idaho $141,220 New Mexico $140,116 Oklahoma $139,873 Alabama $138,981 South Dakota $137,483

Arkansas $136,666 West Virginia $136,228 Mississippi $134,912

Top Paying Cities for Drilling Engineer

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Alcester: $138,916
Aurora: $139,654
Baltic: $138,152

Alcester, SD $138,916

Aurora, SD $139,654

Baltic, SD $138,152

Beresford, SD $138,560

Brandon, SD $137,869

Brookings, SD $139,911

Burbank, SD $138,421

Canistota, SD $138,627

Canton, SD $138,234

Centerville, SD $138,569

Chancellor, SD $138,217

Chester, SD $138,559

Colman, SD $139,011

Colton, SD $138,433

Crooks, SD $138,076

Davis, SD $138,400

Dell Rapids, SD $138,406

Egan, SD $138,777

Elk Point, SD $137,984

Elkton, SD $139,740

Fairview, SD $138,436

Flandreau, SD $139,228

Freeman, SD $139,076

Garretson, SD $138,178

Gayville, SD $139,309

Harrisburg, SD $137,957

Hartford, SD $138,169

Hudson, SD $138,547

Humboldt, SD $138,365

Hurley, SD $138,574

Irene, SD $138,963

Jefferson, SD $137,468

Lennox, SD $138,218

Lesterville, SD $139,206

Lyons, SD $138,205

Madison, SD $139,285

Marion, SD $138,668

Menno, SD $139,134

Mission Hill, SD $139,238

Monroe, SD $138,518

Belle Fourche, SD $139,054

Black Hawk, SD $134,800

Box Elder, SD $134,974

Buffalo, SD $138,801

Buffalo Gap, SD $137,709

Camp Crook, SD $138,934

Caputa, SD $135,626

Custer, SD $137,414

Deadwood, SD $136,567

Edgemont, SD $138,731

Enning, SD $137,648

Fairburn, SD $136,143

Fort Meade, SD $136,129

Hermosa, SD $135,598

Hill City, SD $136,517

Hot Springs, SD $138,625

Howes, SD $137,954

Interior, SD $138,175

Keystone, SD $135,464

Kyle, SD $138,470

Lead, SD $137,818

Ludlow, SD $139,347

Manderson, SD $138,694

Mud Butte, SD $138,038

Nemo, SD $135,654

Newell, SD $138,306

New Underwood, SD $135,632

Nisland, SD $138,612

Oelrichs, SD $138,340

Oglala, SD $138,580

Oral, SD $138,212

Owanka, SD $136,299

Piedmont, SD $134,899

Pine Ridge, SD $138,839

Porcupine, SD $138,421

Pringle, SD $137,840

Quinn, SD $137,975

Redig, SD $137,812

Saint Onge, SD $138,203

Scenic, SD $137,223

Smithwick, SD $138,386

Spearfish, SD $138,827

Sturgis, SD $135,697

Union Center, SD $137,740

Vale, SD $137,306

Wall, SD $137,775

Wasta, SD $137,078

White Owl, SD $138,017

Whitewood, SD $137,621

Wounded Knee, SD $138,701

Leola, SD $139,523

Long Lake, SD $139,736

Mansfield, SD $139,441

Mellette, SD $139,571

Northville, SD $139,421

Onaka, SD $138,880

Orient, SD $139,090

Pierpont, SD $139,562

Redfield, SD $139,787

Rockham, SD $139,255

Roscoe, SD $139,008

Selby, SD $138,768

Seneca, SD $138,792

Stratford, SD $139,578

Tolstoy, SD $138,801

Tulare, SD $139,594

Turton, SD $139,601

Warner, SD $139,740

Westport, SD $139,548

Pierre, SD $127,453

Agar, SD $130,769

Belvidere, SD $137,972

Blunt, SD $127,453

Burke, SD $139,052

Colome, SD $138,883

Dallas, SD $138,840

Draper, SD $134,554

Fort Pierre, SD $127,827

Gregory, SD $138,989

Hamill, SD $138,644

Harrold, SD $128,198

Hayes, SD $136,551

Herrick, SD $138,973

Holabird, SD $131,089

Ideal, SD $138,607

Kadoka, SD $138,131

Kennebec, SD $136,583

Long Valley, SD $138,125

Lower Brule, SD $136,403

Martin, SD $138,458

Midland, SD $137,677

Milesville, SD $137,766

Mission, SD $138,754

Murdo, SD $136,825

Norris, SD $138,340

Okaton, SD $137,990

Okreek, SD $138,675

Onida, SD $128,704

Parmelee, SD $138,588

Philip, SD $137,967

Presho, SD $135,562

Reliance, SD $138,722

Rosebud, SD $138,905

Saint Charles, SD $139,125

Saint Francis, SD $138,639

Tuthill, SD $138,291

Vivian, SD $134,974

Wanblee, SD $138,383

White River, SD $138,321

Winner, SD $138,754

Witten, SD $138,506

Wood, SD $138,305

Mobridge, SD $138,796

Bison, SD $138,450

Bullhead, SD $139,510

Cherry Creek, SD $138,091

Dupree, SD $138,122

Eagle Butte, SD $138,265

Faith, SD $138,079

Glencross, SD $138,197

Glenham, SD $138,846

Herreid, SD $139,377

Isabel, SD $138,170

Keldron, SD $138,837

Lantry, SD $138,330

Lemmon, SD $139,356

Little Eagle, SD $139,489

Lodgepole, SD $138,981

Mc Intosh, SD $139,046

Mc Laughlin, SD $138,923

Meadow, SD $138,132

Morristown, SD $139,188

Mound City, SD $139,128

Pollock, SD $139,651

Prairie City, SD $138,630

Ralph, SD $139,082

Reva, SD $138,638

Ridgeview, SD $138,333

Timber Lake, SD $138,403

Trail City, SD $138,359

Wakpala, SD $138,926

Walker, SD $139,147

Watauga, SD $138,833

Whitehorse, SD $138,480

Rapid City, SD $134,775

Ellsworth Afb, SD $134,775

Allen, SD $138,456

Batesland, SD $138,513

Montrose, SD $138,628

North Sioux City, SD $137,252

Nunda, SD $139,217

Oldham, SD $139,524

Olivet, SD $139,197

Parker, SD $138,442

Ramona, SD $139,277

Renner, SD $137,990

Rowena, SD $137,896

Rutland, SD $139,094

Salem, SD $139,103

Scotland, SD $139,415

Sinai, SD $139,966

Springfield, SD $139,582

Tabor, SD $139,489

Tea, SD $138,066

Trent, SD $138,591

Tyndall, SD $139,450

Utica, SD $139,208

Valley Springs, SD $137,979

Vermillion, SD $139,240

Viborg, SD $138,926

Volga, SD $139,639

Volin, SD $139,081

Wakonda, SD $138,939

Wentworth, SD $139,044

Winfred, SD $139,113

Worthing, SD $138,197

Yankton, SD $139,772

Sioux Falls, SD $137,861

Vienna, SD $139,890

Wallace, SD $139,805

Waubay, SD $139,740

Webster, SD $139,774

White, SD $139,990

Willow Lake, SD $140,047

Wilmot, SD $139,877

Mitchell, SD $139,899

Alexandria, SD $139,385

Alpena, SD $139,621

Armour, SD $139,333

Artesian, SD $139,600

Avon, SD $139,371

Bonesteel, SD $139,100

Bridgewater, SD $139,011

Canova, SD $139,199

Carpenter, SD $139,945

Carthage, SD $139,631

Cavour, SD $139,816

Chamberlain, SD $139,185

Corsica, SD $139,359

Dante, SD $139,290

Delmont, SD $139,296

Dimock, SD $139,450

Emery, SD $139,241

Ethan, SD $139,524

Fairfax, SD $139,125

Fedora, SD $139,479

Fort Thompson, SD $137,551

Fulton, SD $139,497

Gann Valley, SD $138,898

Geddes, SD $139,158

Harrison, SD $139,262

Highmore, SD $136,583

Stephan, SD $137,188

Hitchcock, SD $139,704

Howard, SD $139,548

Huron, SD $140,181

Iroquois, SD $139,848

Kaylor, SD $139,601

Kimball, SD $139,179

Lake Andes, SD $139,382

Lane, SD $139,913

Letcher, SD $139,536

Marty, SD $139,828

Miller, SD $139,309

Mount Vernon, SD $139,445

New Holland, SD $139,653

Oacoma, SD $139,061

Parkston, SD $139,506

Pickstown, SD $139,595

Plankinton, SD $139,423

Platte, SD $139,185

Pukwana, SD $139,087

Ree Heights, SD $138,392

Saint Lawrence, SD $139,315

Spencer, SD $139,181

Stickney, SD $139,332

Tripp, SD $139,371

Virgil, SD $139,503

Wagner, SD $139,398

Wessington, SD $139,398

Wessington Springs, SD $139,377

White Lake, SD $139,240

Wolsey, SD $139,674

Woonsocket, SD $139,610

Yale, SD $139,929

Aberdeen, SD $139,943

Akaska, SD $138,694

Amherst, SD $139,728

Andover, SD $139,527

Ashton, SD $139,501

Barnard, SD $139,693

Bath, SD $139,650

Bowdle, SD $138,955

Brentford, SD $139,754

Britton, SD $140,122

Claremont, SD $139,610

Columbia, SD $139,442

Conde, SD $139,592

Cresbard, SD $139,247

Doland, SD $139,890

Eureka, SD $139,447

Faulkton, SD $139,235

Ferney, SD $140,100

Frankfort, SD $139,881

Frederick, SD $139,730

Gettysburg, SD $137,928

Groton, SD $139,665

Hecla, SD $139,929

Hosmer, SD $139,224

Houghton, SD $139,338

Hoven, SD $138,843

Ipswich, SD $139,368

Java, SD $138,757

Langford, SD $139,541

Lebanon, SD $138,159

Watertown, SD $140,181

Arlington, SD $139,808

Astoria, SD $140,031

Badger, SD $140,054

Big Stone City, SD $140,256

Bradley, SD $139,762

Brandt, SD $139,937

Bristol, SD $139,650

Bruce, SD $139,784

Bryant, SD $139,985

Castlewood, SD $139,899

Claire City, SD $140,111

Clark, SD $140,002

Clear Lake, SD $139,949

Corona, SD $140,114

De Smet, SD $139,929

Eden, SD $139,681

Erwin, SD $139,842

Estelline, SD $139,877

Florence, SD $139,831

Garden City, SD $139,855

Gary, SD $140,038

Goodwin, SD $139,772

Grenville, SD $139,645

Hayti, SD $139,952

Hazel, SD $139,889

Henry, SD $139,892

Kranzburg, SD $140,412

Labolt, SD $139,786

Lake City, SD $139,914

Lake Norden, SD $140,019

Lake Preston, SD $139,884

Marvin, SD $139,636

Milbank, SD $140,234

New Effington, SD $140,409

Ortley, SD $139,666

Peever, SD $139,854

Raymond, SD $139,923

Revillo, SD $139,870

Rosholt, SD $140,376

Roslyn, SD $139,618

Sisseton, SD $139,939

South Shore, SD $139,678

Stockholm, SD $139,680

Strandburg, SD $139,665

Summit, SD $139,674

Toronto, SD $139,883

Twin Brooks, SD $139,627

Veblen, SD $140,181

Drilling Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Drilling Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Drilling Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Drilling Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Drilling Engineer

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$164,980	$79.0	20%
Financial Services	$164,980	$79.0	20%
Pharmaceuticals	$164,980	$79.0	20%
Software & Networking	$164,980	$79.0	20%
Telecom	$164,980	$79.0	20%

Drilling Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Drilling Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$128,084

Average $137,483/year

$147,285

$10,674

Average $11,457/month

$12,274

$2,463

Average $2,644/week

$2,832

$62

Average $66/hour

$71

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$147,285	$12,274	$2,832	$71
Average	$137,483	$11,457	$2,644	$66
25th Percentile	$128,084	$10,674	$2,463	$62

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Drilling Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Drilling Engineer Salary in South Dakota

Check out Drilling Engineer Job Openings in South Dakota

Key Factors That Influence Drilling Engineer Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Drilling Engineer Salaries?

How Do Drilling Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Drilling Engineer

Drilling Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Drilling Engineer

Drilling Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Find Your Next Drilling Engineer Job

For Employees

For Employers

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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Drilling Engineer Salary in South Dakota

Check out Drilling Engineer Job Openings in South Dakota

Key Factors That Influence Drilling Engineer Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Drilling Engineer Salaries?

How Do Drilling Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Drilling Engineer

Drilling Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Drilling Engineer

Drilling Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of jobs related to Drilling Engineer

Find Your Next Drilling Engineer Job

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