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.
Life As an Oil and Gas Roustabout: What Do They Do?
- Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks.
- Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.
- Bolt together pump and engine parts.
- Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.
- Clean up spilled oil by bailing it into barrels.
- Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks.
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Things an Oil and Gas Roustabout Should Know How to Do
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.
Related Job Titles
- Oil Rigger
- Roustabout Crew Leader
- Field Service Technician
- Production Roustabout
- Roustabout Pusher
Job Demand for Oil and Gas Roustabouts
There were about 50,000 jobs for Oil and Gas Roustabout in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
What is the Average Salary of an Oil and Gas Roustabout
The salary for Oil and Gas Roustabouts ranges between about $27,110 and $58,880 a year.

Oil and Gas Roustabouts who work in North Dakota, Montana, or Nebraska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Oil and Gas Roustabouts in different U.S. states.
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 & Technology do Oil and Gas Roustabouts Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Oil and Gas Roustabouts:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- SAP software
- Maintenance record software
Becoming an Oil and Gas Roustabout
What education or degrees do I need to become an Oil and Gas Roustabout?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Oil and Gas Roustabout?

Who Employs Oil and Gas Roustabouts?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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
Are you already one of the many Oil and Gas Roustabout in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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