All About Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators
Example of Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator Job Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. May also perform similar services in mining exploration operations. Includes fishing-tool technicians.
Daily Life Of an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator
- Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
- Perforate well casings or sidewalls of boreholes with explosive charges.
- Thread cables through derrick pulleys, using hand tools.
- Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.
- Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.
- Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.
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Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator Required Skills
Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Types of Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator
- Oil Well Fishing-Tool Technician
- Oil Well Service Unit Operator
- Well Servicing Rig Operator
- Wireline Supervisor
- Wireline Operator
Job Outlook for Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators
In the United States, there were 41,400 jobs for Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 23.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 9,700 new jobs for Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator by 2026. There will be an estimated 6,400 positions for Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator per year.

The states with the most job growth for Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator are Wyoming, Utah, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Michigan, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator
The average yearly salary of an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator ranges between $32,430 and $78,840.

Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators who work in Alaska, New Mexico, or California, make the highest salaries.
How much do Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $49,550 |
Alaska | $63,720 |
Arkansas | $52,240 |
California | $56,730 |
Colorado | $56,310 |
Florida | $44,140 |
Illinois | $45,440 |
Indiana | $44,220 |
Kansas | $42,170 |
Kentucky | $47,000 |
Louisiana | $54,000 |
Michigan | $49,860 |
Mississippi | $57,570 |
Montana | $60,480 |
New Mexico | $63,040 |
North Dakota | $60,760 |
Ohio | $55,370 |
Oklahoma | $45,930 |
Pennsylvania | $44,470 |
Tennessee | $51,750 |
Texas | $51,850 |
Utah | $54,160 |
West Virginia | $50,110 |
Wyoming | $55,410 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Inventory tracking software
- SAP software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Time and attendance software
- Data logger software
Becoming an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator
Learn what Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator education requirements there are.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator?

Who Employs Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators?

Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators work in the following industries:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being an Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Jeffrey Beall via Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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