All About Oil and Gas Derrick Operators
Oil & Gas Derrick Operator Job Description Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud through drill hole.
Life As an Oil & Gas Derrick Operator: What Do They Do?
- Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
- Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them.
- Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings.
- Guide lengths of pipe into and out of elevators.
- Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
- Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud, using portable mixers.
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Skills Needed to be an Oil & Gas Derrick Operator
These are the skills Oil and Gas Derrick Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Other Oil & Gas Derrick Operator Job Titles
- Derrick Hand
- Floor Hand
- Derrick Man
- Driller
- Derrick Operator
Is There Going to be Demand for Oil and Gas Derrick Operators?
In the United States, there were 11,100 jobs for Oil and Gas Derrick Operator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 25.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,800 new jobs for Oil and Gas Derrick Operator by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,800 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Oil & Gas Derrick Operator are Wyoming, North Dakota, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, or Florida. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an Oil & Gas Derrick Operator
The salary for Oil and Gas Derrick Operators ranges between about $33,290 and $64,960 a year.
Oil and Gas Derrick Operators who work in North Dakota, Wyoming, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Oil and Gas Derrick Operators in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $55,960 |
| Arkansas | $40,680 |
| California | $52,300 |
| Colorado | $51,390 |
| Kansas | $43,330 |
| Louisiana | $47,550 |
| Michigan | $43,130 |
| Mississippi | $46,590 |
| Montana | $49,950 |
| New Mexico | $48,310 |
| North Dakota | $59,550 |
| Oklahoma | $48,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,540 |
| Texas | $44,920 |
| Utah | $45,860 |
| Wyoming | $55,040 |
What Tools & Technology do Oil and Gas Derrick Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Oil and Gas Derrick Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Data entry software
How do I Become an Oil & Gas Derrick Operator?
Education needed to be an Oil and Gas Derrick Operator:
What work experience do I need to become an Oil & Gas Derrick Operator?
Where do Oil and Gas Derrick Operators Work?
Oil and Gas Derrick Operators work in the following industries:
References:
Image Credit: Tomwsulcer via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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