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Quick answer · Balanced priorities

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas vs Roofers: what changes?

Consider Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas if you want to rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole. Consider Roofers if you would rather cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. Both list no formal educational credential; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas and Roofers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

National median pay (2025)
$58,620
Route into the job
No formal educational credential; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing
One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
900
Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas brief

Roofers

National median pay (2025)
$55,440
Route into the job
No formal educational credential; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
12,000
Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Roofers brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Roofers has the edge on annual openings

Roofers is at 12,000 annual openings, compared with 900 annual openings for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas.

2

Roofers has the edge on projected growth

Roofers is at 5.3% projected growth, compared with 1.6% projected growth for Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas.

3

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas has the edge on median pay

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas is at $58,620, compared with $55,440 for Roofers.

40/ 100

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

vs
62.8/ 100

Roofers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas vs Roofers

DimensionDerrick Operators, Oil and GasRoofers
Median pay (2025)$58,620$55,440
Pay percentile45.1 percentile40.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)1.6%5.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)90012,000
2025 employment10,700166,900
How you qualifyNo formal educational credential; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensingNo formal educational credential; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 2Job Zone 2
Related work experiencePrior related experience: less than 5 years.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingOne month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.