Life As an Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator
Occupation Description 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.
List of Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator Job Duties
- Monitor sound wave generating or detecting mechanisms to determine well fluid levels.
- Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.
- Interpret instrument readings to ascertain the depth of obstruction.
- Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
- Confer with others to gather information regarding pipe or tool sizes or borehole conditions in wells.
- Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.
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Qualities of an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator
When polled, Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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, & Mining Service Unit Operator Jobs
- Coiled Tubing Supervisor
- Wireline Operator
- Work Over Rig Operator
- Well Servicing Rig Operator
- Service Rig Operator
Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator Job Outlook
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. The BLS estimates 6,400 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator Salary
Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators make between $32,430 and $78,840 a year.

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 different U.S. states?
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
How do I Become an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator?
What kind of Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

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

The table below shows the approximate number of Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those interested in being an Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as an Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Jeffrey Beall via Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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