Life As an Oil and Gas Roustabout
Oil and Gas Roustabout Definition Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
Oil and Gas Roustabout Responsibilities
- Bolt or nail together wood or steel framework to erect derricks.
- Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.
- Keep pipe deck and main deck areas clean and tidy.
- Bolt together pump and engine parts.
- Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.
- Guide cranes to move loads about decks.
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Oil and Gas Roustabout Needed Skills
These are the skills Oil and Gas Roustabouts say are the most useful in their careers:
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Types of Oil and Gas Roustabout Jobs
- Internal Corrosion Specialist
- Operator
- Terminal Operator
- Oil Rig Roughneck
- Derrick Worker
Is There Going to be Demand for Oil and Gas Roustabouts?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 50,000 jobs in the United States for Oil and Gas Roustabout. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 24.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 12,400 new jobs for Oil and Gas Roustabout by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 8,000 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Oil and Gas Roustabout are Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Michigan, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Oil and Gas Roustabout Salary
Oil and Gas Roustabouts make between $27,110 and $58,880 a year.

Oil and Gas Roustabouts who work in North Dakota, Montana, or Nebraska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Oil and Gas Roustabouts make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $45,810 |
Arizona | $33,030 |
Arkansas | $38,740 |
California | $38,260 |
Colorado | $44,760 |
Illinois | $38,330 |
Indiana | $39,860 |
Kansas | $38,200 |
Kentucky | $37,270 |
Louisiana | $39,260 |
Michigan | $41,030 |
Mississippi | $28,940 |
Montana | $52,910 |
Nebraska | $46,490 |
New Mexico | $36,230 |
North Dakota | $53,490 |
Ohio | $39,010 |
Oklahoma | $40,750 |
Pennsylvania | $34,860 |
South Dakota | $43,860 |
Texas | $38,860 |
Utah | $47,040 |
West Virginia | $35,970 |
Wyoming | $44,490 |
What Tools do Oil and Gas Roustabouts Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Oil and Gas Roustabouts may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- SAP software
- Maintenance record software
How do I Become an Oil and Gas Roustabout?
What education is needed to be an Oil and Gas Roustabout?

What work experience do I need to become an Oil and Gas Roustabout?

Oil and Gas Roustabouts Sector

Oil and Gas Roustabouts work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those interested in being an Oil and Gas Roustabout may also be interested in:
- Parking Lot Attendants
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
Career changers with experience as an Oil and Gas Roustabout sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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