Life As an Oil and Gas Roustabout
Example of Oil and Gas Roustabout Job Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
List of Oil and Gas Roustabout Job Duties
- Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.
- Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
- Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks.
- Guide cranes to move loads about decks.
- Keep pipe deck and main deck areas clean and tidy.
- Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.
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Skills Needed to be an Oil and Gas Roustabout
When polled, Oil and Gas Roustabouts say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Types of Oil and Gas Roustabout
- Roustabout Crew Pusher
- Cathead Operator
- Roustabout Crew Leader
- Floor Hand
- Oil Rigger
Oil and Gas Roustabout Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 50,000 jobs in the United States for Oil and Gas Roustabout. 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.
Do Oil and Gas Roustabouts Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of an Oil and Gas Roustabout ranges between $27,110 and $58,880.

Oil and Gas Roustabouts who work in North Dakota, Montana, or Nebraska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Oil and Gas Roustabouts make in each U.S. state?
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Oil and Gas Roustabouts
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Oil and Gas Roustabouts may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- SAP software
- Maintenance record software
How to Become an Oil and Gas Roustabout
Learn what Oil and Gas Roustabout education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Oil and Gas Roustabouts Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Oil and Gas Roustabouts employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Oil and Gas Roustabout might also be interested in the following careers:
- Parking Lot Attendants
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
Those who work as an Oil and Gas Roustabout sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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