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Roustabouts, Oil and Gas

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $46,960 Median per year · $22.58/hr Most earn $36,420–$64,530

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks.
  • Lay gas and oil pipelines.
  • Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.
  • Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks.
  • Supply equipment to rig floors as requested and provide assistance to roughnecks.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 4,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Support activities for mining75.7%
  • Oil and gas extraction9.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

You can start with just a high school diploma, but most roustabouts first spend about 1 to 2 years working as a helper or laborer on oil field crews to build hands-on skills. This job is good for people who like working outdoors and with their hands.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    A diploma is the usual minimum, and shop, math, and mechanical classes help you get comfortable with tools and equipment.

  2. Oil Field Helper

    1-2 years

    As a helper, you learn to handle pipe, tools, and equipment safely while working under experienced crew members, which builds the experience employers look for.

  3. Roustabout

    Career

    You assemble and repair oil field equipment with hand and power tools and take on other tasks as needed, using the skills you built as a helper.

Where it can lead

  1. Service Unit Operator

    1-2 years as a roustabout of experience first

    You would run the specialized equipment used to service and maintain oil and gas wells, which takes more training and responsibility on the job.

  2. Rotary Drill Operator

    2-4 years in a field crew role of experience first

    You would control the drilling equipment that bores wells, a more skilled position that usually comes after years of crew experience and on-the-job training.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, welding, or auto mechanics classesThese classes teach you to use hand and power tools safely, which is the core of this job.
  • Take math and physical scienceBasic math and physics help you understand measurements, pressure, and how equipment works.
  • Get a part-time or summer job doing manual or outdoor workAny job that involves lifting, tools, or teamwork gives you early experience with physical work and responsibility.
  • Join a career or technical student clubClubs like SkillsUSA-style groups, where your school has them, build teamwork and hands-on skills.
  • Learn basic workplace safetyKnowing how to work safely around heavy equipment makes you a stronger candidate for crew jobs.

In college

  • Take courses in mechanics, welding, or industrial maintenanceHands-on technical courses at a community or technical college give you skills that help you repair and assemble equipment.
  • Look for summer or part-time work on a construction, oilfield, or maintenance crewReal field experience is what most employers want, and it counts toward the 1 to 2 years of experience this job usually needs.
  • Earn a safety or equipment certification if your school or local employers offer oneSafety credentials show employers you can work responsibly on a site with heavy equipment.
  • Build physical fitness and reliabilityThis job is physically demanding and often involves long shifts, so staying active and dependable helps you succeed.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask an oil field company or contractor about helper or entry-level crew jobs, and be willing to start at the bottom to learn the work.
  • Get comfortable with safety training and certifications offered by employers, such as basic first aid or safety courses, since safety matters a lot on rigs.
  • Keep a good attendance record and show up ready to work, because crews depend on everyone being reliable.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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