Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Critical ThinkingQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlMonitoringJudgment and Decision Making
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas pay by experience level
Entry level$37,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$40,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$48,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$60,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$67,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+2.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,300
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas salary by industry
Support Activities for Mining
34,600 workers
$51,000
Support Activities for Mining
34,600 workers
$51,000
Oil and Gas Extraction
4,220 workers
$55,000
Oil and Gas Extraction
4,220 workers
$55,000
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
2,750 workers
$44,500
Utility System Construction
2,750 workers
$44,500
Specialty Trade Contractors
690 workers
$45,000
Rental and Leasing Services
620 workers
$48,000
Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only)
620 workers
$48,000
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
560 workers
$44,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas pays 22% below the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
Need Roustabouts, Oil and Gas pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
