Driller Salary UK 2026
UK drillers earn £720 to £950 a day in 2026, roughly £11,000 to £14,500 a month or £130,000 to £170,000 a year. IWCF Level 4 supervisor certification and several years of drill floor supervision are required before anyone will hire you at that rate.
Driller pay progression
| Stage | Pay | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant driller | £520 to £720 a day | IWCF Level 3 plus drill floor time. |
| Driller | £720 to £950 a day | IWCF Level 4, runs the drill floor. |
| Toolpusher | £850 to £1,100 a day | Runs the whole drilling operation. |
Tickets you need
- IWCF Level 4 (Combined Surface and Subsea)
- OGUK medical
- BOSIET with CA-EBS
- MIST
- OPITO Control of Well Operations
What lifts your day rate
- HPHT and deepwater well experience
- Managed pressure drilling
- Automated drilling systems (NOV, Cameron) competence
Who hires drillers in the UK
How to get paid at the top of the band
Day rates are negotiated against what a recruiter can verify in the first fifteen seconds of reading your CV. For a driller, that means three things:
- IWCF level, number and expiry belongs in the top third of page one
- List well types drilled, HPHT, deviated, subsea, exploration versus development
- Show crew size supervised and rig types by name
Written by offshore specialists with 25+ years in the industry. 48-hour turnaround.
Driller salary questions
How much does a driller earn in the North Sea?
£720 to £950 a day in 2026, which is £130,000 to £170,000 a year on a 2-on-2-off rotation.
How long does it take to become a driller?
Typically eight to twelve years from roustabout: two years to roughneck, three to five more to derrickman and assistant driller, then IWCF Level 4 and supervision time.
Compare other offshore salaries
See the full breakdown in our oil rig worker salary guide for 2026.