How to become a roustabout, oil and gas
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What roustabouts, oil and gas do
- Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
- Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.
- Guide cranes to move loads about decks.
- Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks.
- Lay gas and oil pipelines.
- Bolt together pump and engine parts.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Is roustabout, oil and gas a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 8% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Alaska $60,810
- North Dakota $60,480
- Montana $58,800
- Florida $57,080
- Nebraska $53,340
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.