Roustabouts, Oil and Gas

Career Overview

Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.

Also Known As

• Floor Hand
• Roustabout
• Roustabout Hand
• Roustabout Pusher

Alternate Job Titles

• Casing Crew Pusher
• Cathead Operator
• Connection Worker
• Derrick Hand
• Drill Rig Operator
• Dumper Bailer Operator
• Equipment Operator
• Field Service Engineer
• Field Service Installation Technician (Field Service Installation Tech)
• Field Service Roustabout
• Field Service Technician (Field Service Tech)
• Field Specialist
• Field Technician (Field Tech)
• Floor Hand
• Floorhand

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• 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.
• Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• Mechanical

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Multilimb Coordination
• Manual Dexterity
• Problem Sensitivity
• Near Vision
• Far Vision
• Control Precision
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Static Strength
• Trunk Strength
• Extent Flexibility

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Dependability
• Cautiousness
• Attention to Detail
• Perseverance
• Stress Tolerance

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Support
• Relationships
• Working Conditions
• Independence
• Achievement

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Less than a High School Diploma

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: 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.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Word
• SAP software

Tools & Equipment

• Adjustable hand wrenches
• Air hoists
• Air-powered sandblasters
• Catheads
• Centrifugal pumps
• Chipping hammers
• Cleaning scrapers
• Deck grinders
• Ear plugs
• Electric hoists
• Fall arresting lanyards
• Filter presses
• Fire extinguishers
• Forklifts
• Grease guns

Work Environment

• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
• Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
• Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$35,650
Median	$47,510
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$64,010

Workers Employed Nationally: 45,330

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.