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Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas: Career Overview
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. Includes fishing-tool technicians.
The Daily Work of Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of service unit operators, oil and gas include:
- Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
- Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.
- Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.
- Prepare reports of services rendered, tools used, or time required, for billing purposes.
- Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.
- 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.
- Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.
What Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Need to Know
Effective service unit operators, oil and gas combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Coiled Tubing Operator
- Fishing Tool Operator
- Gather Operator
- Oil Processing Technician
- Oil Well Fishing Tool Technician
- Oil Well Service Operator
- Oil Well Service Unit Operator
- Oil and Gas Equipment Operator
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 74,909 service unit operators, oil and gas working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +10.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $50,058 |
| Hourly median | $24.07 |
| 10th percentile | $31,481 |
| 25th percentile | $40,769 |
| 75th percentile | $59,346 |
| 90th percentile | $68,634 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $98,930 |
| Missouri | $87,910 |
| Florida | $69,030 |
| California | $66,060 |
| North Dakota | $62,340 |
| Montana | $61,850 |
| Colorado | $59,780 |
| Wyoming | $59,460 |
| New Mexico | $58,080 |
| Oklahoma | $56,530 |
| Nebraska | $56,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,130 |
| Utah | $55,570 |
| Arkansas | $55,370 |
| Indiana | $55,050 |
| West Virginia | $54,600 |
| Mississippi | $54,380 |
| Louisiana | $53,020 |
| Ohio | $52,380 |
| Texas | $51,710 |
| Michigan | $50,300 |
| New York | $49,050 |
| Illinois | $48,760 |
| Alabama | $47,640 |
| Kansas | $44,150 |
| Tennessee | $42,910 |
| Virginia | $38,380 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for service unit operators, oil and gas shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $75,524 | 10.2% | 4.50 |
| Plains States | $59,272 | 9.4% | 19.51 |
| Rocky Mountains | $58,842 | 11.9% | 4.13 |
| Middle Atlantic | $55,812 | 4.6% | 1.07 |
| Southeast | $53,408 | 11.0% | 4.57 |
| Southwest | $52,956 | 49.9% | 4.90 |
| Great Lakes | $51,568 | 3.1% | 0.37 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $98,920 | 140 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | MO | $89,540 | 60 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $88,880 | 30 |
| Billings, MT | MT | $74,300 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $70,230 | 480 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $64,460 | 970 |
| Cheyenne, WY | WY | $63,850 | 60 |
| Farmington, NM | NM | $62,880 | 550 |
Top Industries Employing Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Most service unit operators, oil and gas are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 39,640 | $57,450 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1,600 | $59,830 |
| Manufacturing | 1,060 | $48,610 |
| Utilities | 610 | $79,150 |
| Wholesale Trade | 320 | $66,690 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 170 | $62,800 |
| Construction | 40 | $63,810 |
Below are examples of industries where service unit operators, oil and gas work:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for service unit operators, oil and gas reflects the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Contact With Others
- Exposed to Contaminants
Education and Training
Entry-level service unit operators, oil and gas positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (Supplemental)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (Primary-Short)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (Supplemental)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (Primary-Short)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators (Supplemental)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring service unit operators, oil and gas commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-5013.00 (Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas).
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