Tighten or loosen pipe joints
Grab a hand or power wrench and tighten joints to join pipe sections, or loosen them to separate.
Career profile
Oil and Gas Roustabout
Roustabouts assemble and repair oilfield equipment, move pipe, and prepare job sites for the crew.
Handy with tools and curious how big machines fit together? Roustabout work puts you next to the machinery early on.
A day in the life
Unload pipe from the truck
You run the truck's winch or a motorized lift to unload pipe where crew members need it.
Walk flow lines for leaks
In some roles, you walk flow lines, looking for leaks by eye and with an electronic detector.
Clean dirt off the rig
Between other jobs, clear built-up dirt off the rig and its equipment so work areas stay tidy.
Quick facts
Learn on the job
United States · 2025 entry characteristics
$46,960/year
United States · May 2025
3.6% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Learn on the jobNo formal educational credential is typically needed; some employers ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.
Pay
$46,960/yearNational median for roustabouts, equivalent to $22.58 an hour.
Outlook
3.6% projected growthAbout 4,100 openings a year are projected nationally, including replacement openings.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy figuring out how equipment fits together.
- You communicate clearly when working alongside other people.
- You can give routine cleaning the same attention as a repair.
Things to weigh
- Weather, repeated bending, noise, and heavy equipment make this demanding physical work.
- Offshore or remote jobs can mean weeks away from home.
Where AI may help
Electronic leak detectors help you find problems that a visual check might miss.
What people still lead
Crews still handle equipment and coordinate its movement.
What we can’t predict yet
Automation may change crew sizes; how much hands-on work it takes over will vary across sites.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use the national figures as a starting point, then compare the hours and terms of an actual offer.
The middle and the spread
The median was $46,960 a year, or $22.58 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earned $36,420 or less; the highest-paid 10% earned $64,530 or more. Those are wage percentiles, not starting and senior salaries.
Employer type can matter
In May 2023, roustabouts averaged $47,270 annually in mining support services and $52,470 in oil and gas extraction. These historical averages show an industry difference; they are not current offers or a guaranteed premium.
Openings include people leaving
Employment is projected to grow 3.6% during 2025–2035, with about 4,100 openings annually. Openings include replacements, so they outnumber jobs added through growth.
Getting started
Join an entry-level crew
- What the route involves
- Learn from experienced workers, starting with tools, cleanup, material handling, and safety routines.
- What it can lead to
- You gain field experience that can support more complex work and later trade training.
- What to check
- Some employers require a diploma or safety certification before or after hiring. Check the actual entry requirements.
Prepare through Job Corps
- What the route involves
- Study equipment assembly, maintenance, and material handling in the Roustabout Operator program.
- What it can lead to
- You build preparation for roustabout work on land or offshore before applying to employers.
- What to check
- Job Corps generally serves eligible low-income people ages 16–24. Admissions checks eligibility and program access. This training requires a diploma or equivalent, which can be earned at Job Corps, introductory courses, academic readiness, and passing tests.
You can enter through employment or prepare through a training program.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn the crew’s tool organization and safety routines.
Build capability
Become more capable at assembling equipment, maintaining it, and moving materials.
Lead or learn a trade
With experience, pursue crew-lead responsibilities: planning work and coordinating people. Some contractors also offer cross-training into skilled trades.
Where you can work
Land service crews
At Appalachian service contractors, your crew may prepare sites and handle materials alongside skilled tradespeople. The mix can extend beyond the drilling rig to construction and maintenance jobs.
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Offshore rigs
Cargo handling brings you alongside crane operators. Rotations may combine long shifts with weeks away from home.
- Outdoors
- Travel
- Shift work
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Sketch a work area with a pipe stack, a truck unloading spot, and a pump needing parts. Use paper pieces to plan what moves first, then explain the sequence to a partner. Notice whether organizing materials and making your instructions clear holds your interest.
Stay safe: Keep this a tabletop exercise; it does not teach lifting or rigging.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. 47-5071.00 — Roustabouts, Oil and Gas. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages — Roustabouts, Oil and Gas. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics, 2025–2035. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages — Roustabouts, Oil and Gas. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook — Oil and Gas Workers. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps. Roustabout Operator. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps. Questions — Job Corps. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- ShalePro Energy Services. Oilfield Jobs in PA, WV, and Ohio. Accessed 2026-10-03.