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Construction and Trades

Roustabouts, Oil and Gas

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

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
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Median pay

$47,510
Median annual pay for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

2.5%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

4,300
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

46,000
Estimated U.S. employment for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+1,100
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

No formal educational credential
Typical additional preparation: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Critical Thinking
  2. 2Monitoring
  3. 3Active Listening
  4. 4Speaking
  5. 5Active Learning
  6. 6Learning Strategies

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Mechanical
  2. 2Customer and Personal Service
  3. 3Production and Processing
  4. 4Transportation
  5. 5Mathematics
  6. 6English Language

Abilities

  1. 1Manual Dexterity
  2. 2Multilimb Coordination
  3. 3Near Vision
  4. 4Problem Sensitivity
  5. 5Arm-Hand Steadiness
  6. 6Control Precision

Career interests

  1. 1Realistic
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Investigative
  4. 4Artistic
  5. 5Enterprising
  6. 6Social

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Cautiousness
  3. 3Attention to Detail
  4. 4Perseverance
  5. 5Stress Tolerance
  6. 6Integrity

Work activities

  1. 1Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
  2. 2Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  3. 3Controlling Machines and Processes
  4. 4Performing General Physical Activities
  5. 5Getting Information
  6. 6Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Work context

  1. 1Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  2. 2Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
  3. 3Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  4. 4Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
  5. 5Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
  6. 6Contact With Others

Representative tasks

  • 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.

Software and tools

Microsoft Outlook · hot technologySAP software · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyPurchasing softwareMicrosoft Windows XPDatabase management systemsMaintenance software

The short answer

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

The measurable national baseline is $47,510 median annual pay, 2.5% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034, and 4,300 projected openings per year. Use these figures as a national benchmark rather than a personal forecast; location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours can change individual outcomes.

Pay and the size of the opportunity

The national median-pay figure for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas is $47,510. Current employment is 46,000, with projected 2034 employment of 47,100. Pay describes the middle worker nationally, not a guaranteed starting salary, and the employment totals describe the occupation's scale rather than the number of jobs available to one applicant.

Demand, growth, and annual openings

BLS projects 2.5% employment growth for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas from 2024 to 2034 and about 4,300 openings per year. Growth measures whether the occupation is expanding, while annual openings also include replacement needs created when workers retire, change occupations, or leave the labor force.

Education and preparation

The typical BLS entry-education category is No formal educational credential. Related work experience is None, and the listed on-the-job training category is Moderate-term on-the-job training. These categories summarize a national pathway; licensing, certification, portfolios, apprenticeships, or local employer requirements may add to it.

What the work involves

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

A representative O*NET task is: Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs. The broader activity profile emphasizes Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials, Controlling Machines and Processes.

Skills, knowledge, and tools

The strongest available O*NET skill signals are Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Active Listening. Leading knowledge areas are Mechanical, Customer and Personal Service, Production and Processing. These are national occupational signals, so a specific employer may emphasize a different mix. Examples of software or tools associated with the occupation include Microsoft Outlook, SAP software, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access.

Common questions

What is the median pay for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas?

The national median annual pay in the current dataset is $47,510. Actual pay varies by location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours.

Is demand growing for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas?

BLS projects 2.5% employment growth from 2024 to 2034 and about 4,300 openings per year. Openings include both newly created positions and replacement demand.

What education is needed for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas?

The typical BLS entry-education category is No formal educational credential. Related experience, on-the-job training, licensing, or certification requirements may also apply.

What does Roustabouts, Oil and Gas involve?

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

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.