Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Salary in the United States

How much does a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator in the United States is $52,579 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $63,221
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,483 to $58,149
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,843
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI Onboarding
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $47,483 10% $42,843 90% $63,221 75% $58,149 $52,579 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $58,149 $4,846 $1,118 $28
Average $52,579 $4,382 $1,011 $25
25th Percentile $47,483 $3,957 $913 $23
Check out Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Job Openings in the United States
Directional Bore Operator Locator

Cable Services - Williamsfield, OH

Horizontal Directional Drilling Locator

STG Fiber Services Career Opportunities - Youngstown, OH

Horizontal Directional Drilling Locator

Blue Jay Communications Inc. - Cleveland, OH

Horizontal Directional Drilling Locator

Blue Jay Communications Inc. - Youngstown, OH

Search More Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Jobs in the United States
Select State
Select City
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Salaries

A Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locators

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:

  • San Jose: $66,318
  • San Francisco: $65,592
  • Oakland: $64,210

What Skills Can Increase a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 2.54% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 3.21% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
  • Machine Operation (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): Applying methods and techniques to implement, maintain, repair, design, and update various machines following specific rules to ensure safety.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail 2.54%
Work Ethic 3.21%
Machine Operation 1.63%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator's salary.
  • Standard Operating Procedures: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Standard Operating Procedures
 $55,734
6%
Leadership
 $55,734
6%
Decision Making
 $55,734
6%
SOP
 $55,734
6%
Process Improvement
 $55,208
5%
Programming
 $55,208
5%
Get Latest Data

Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 113% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator positions in Transportation or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$73,611$35.040%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$68,353$33.030%
Aerospace & Defense$63,095$30.020%
Pharmaceuticals$58,889$28.012%
Construction$57,837$28.010%

How Education impacts a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locators enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator with a No Diploma is between $47,897 and $51,549).

Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 63.6%
High School 63.6%
Associates 27.3%
Bachelors 9.1%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$47,483
Average $52,579/year
$58,149
$3,957
Average $4,382/month
$4,846
$913
Average $1,011/week
$1,118
$23
Average $25/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $58,149 $4,846 $1,118 $28
Average $52,579 $4,382 $1,011 $25
25th Percentile $47,483 $3,957 $913 $23

Salaries of jobs related to Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator

Salary Trends for Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator

Salaries for a Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $42,580 in 2023 to around $42,618 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,580
2024
$42,734
2025
$42,618
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,580
2024 $42,734
2025 $42,618
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator

Here are companies hiring for Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Locator Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst