Roustabouts, Oil and Gas: Career Overview
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Roustabouts, Oil and Gas Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of roustabouts, oil and gas include:
- Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
- Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.
- Guide cranes to move loads about decks.
- Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks.
- Lay gas and oil pipelines.
- Bolt together pump and engine parts.
- Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.
- Clean trucks used in the fields.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful roustabouts, oil and gas draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Casing Crew Pusher
- Cathead Operator
- Connection Worker
- Derrick Hand
- Drill Rig Operator
- Dumper Bailer Operator
- Equipment Operator
- Field Service Engineer
How Many Roustabouts, Oil and Gas Are There?
The U.S. employs around 386,813 roustabouts, oil and gas working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +1.2% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Roustabouts, Oil and Gas Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $47,803 |
| Hourly median | $22.98 |
| 10th percentile | $34,337 |
| 25th percentile | $41,070 |
| 75th percentile | $54,536 |
| 90th percentile | $61,268 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $63,230 |
| North Dakota | $60,140 |
| Montana | $58,690 |
| California | $56,690 |
| Florida | $56,160 |
| Ohio | $55,450 |
| West Virginia | $51,490 |
| Nebraska | $49,500 |
| South Dakota | $49,380 |
| Indiana | $49,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,210 |
| Kansas | $48,680 |
| Michigan | $48,650 |
| New Mexico | $48,570 |
| Colorado | $48,350 |
| Utah | $47,680 |
| Wyoming | $47,020 |
| Oklahoma | $46,350 |
| Texas | $46,180 |
| Arkansas | $45,050 |
| Mississippi | $44,930 |
| Alabama | $44,670 |
| Louisiana | $44,390 |
| Illinois | $43,690 |
| Kentucky | $36,950 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for roustabouts, oil and gas differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $60,331 | 2.0% | 2.92 |
| Plains States | $57,599 | 7.7% | 17.12 |
| Great Lakes | $50,467 | 3.2% | 0.29 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,210 | 3.6% | 0.91 |
| Rocky Mountains | $48,049 | 8.6% | 8.74 |
| Southwest | $46,460 | 67.2% | 6.68 |
| Southeast | $45,139 | 7.9% | 3.56 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $67,430 | 30 |
| Columbus, OH | OH | $65,330 | 90 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $57,620 | 140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $56,630 | 220 |
| Tyler, TX | TX | $53,030 | 240 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | CO | $51,740 | 40 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | LA | $50,590 | 430 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $49,590 | 5,690 |
Top Industries Employing Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
The bulk of roustabouts, oil and gas are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 40,090 | $47,640 |
| Construction | 1,970 | $42,150 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 750 | $39,760 |
| Manufacturing | 520 | $46,020 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 410 | $52,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 400 | $34,830 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 360 | $48,550 |
| Utilities | 330 | $73,480 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for roustabouts, oil and gas tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level roustabouts, oil and gas positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Long)
- Pile Driver Operators (Supplemental)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Long)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Electricians (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (Primary-Long)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (Primary-Short)
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-5071.00 (Roustabouts, Oil and Gas).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.