Roustabouts, Oil and Gas

Wages
In 2021, the average annual wage in Alabama was $38,100 with most people making between $29,520 and $60,800.
Wages by Industry
  • Support Activities for Mining $33,220.00
  • Oil and Gas Extraction $37,160.00
  • Utility System Construction $33,210.00
Education Required
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Common Majors
  • no information available
About the job

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

What you'll do
    • Bolt or nail together wood or steel framework to erect derricks.
    • Bolt together pump and engine parts.
    • Clean up spilled oil by bailing it into barrels.
    • Cut down and remove trees and brush to clear drill sites, to reduce fire hazards, and to make way for roads to sites.
    • Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.
    • Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks.
    • Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.
    • Guide cranes to move loads about decks.
    • Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.
    • Supply equipment to rig floors as requested, and provide assistance to roughnecks.
Things you need to know
    • Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
    • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
    • Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Abilities you'll need to have
    • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
    • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
    • Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
    • Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
    • Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
    • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
    • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.