Occupation · SOC 47-5071
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
Median wage
$47,510
$35,650–$64,010
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
45,330
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
2 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingMonitoringOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlQuality Control AnalysisJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
MechanicalCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Data base management system softwareInventory management softwareProject management softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareData base user interface and query software
Representative tasks
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.Clean trucks used in the fields.Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks.Supply equipment to rig floors as requested and provide assistance to roughnecks.Clean up spilled oil by bailing it into barrels.Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.Cut down and remove trees and brush to clear drill sites, to reduce fire hazards, and to make way for roads to sites.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Hand and power wrenches — identify and apply under direct supervision to screw or tighten pipes, casing, and tubing on an active drill site.Pump and engine components — bolt together following step-by-step instructions provided by a lead roustabout in an oil field equipment yard.Flow lines — walk designated routes under supervision to perform basic visual inspections for leaks at an onshore production site.Pipes and tubing — assist in moving loads to and from trucks using truck winches and motorized lifts under the direction of experienced crew members.Crane signals — recognize and use standard hand signals to guide crane operators when moving loads across a deck or staging area.Field trucks — clean and maintain vehicles used in oil field operations following established housekeeping protocols at the end of each shift.Electronic leak detectors — operate basic handheld devices under direct supervision to support flow line inspections on a production lease.Gas and oil pipeline sections — assist in laying pipe segments by positioning and aligning components as directed during a pipeline installation job.Personal protective equipment — select and wear correctly on all occasions in accordance with site safety requirements at a Job Zone 2 oil and gas facility.Hand tools — identify the correct tool for each assigned task and use safely under close oversight during routine oil field maintenance activities.
developing
Pipes, casing, and tubing — unscrew and tighten independently using hand and power wrenches and tongs with minimal oversight during routine well servicing operations.Oil field machinery and boilers — dismantle and perform basic repairs using hand tools and power tools following standard maintenance procedures at a production facility.Flow line leak repairs — locate leaks using electronic detectors and visual inspection techniques and execute standard repairs on an onshore oil field lease.Gas and oil pipelines — lay and connect pipeline sections in familiar terrain, coordinating with crew members to maintain schedule and quality standards.Pump and engine assemblies — bolt together components accurately and verify torque specifications to meet operational tolerances during equipment installation tasks.Crane load movements — guide crane operators to position and place loads safely across a deck or work yard, applying practiced signaling procedures.Pipe handling logistics — coordinate the movement of pipes to and from trucks using winches, lifts, or manual methods while monitoring load security and crew safety.Monitoring and quality checks — observe ongoing field operations for abnormal conditions and report deviations to supervisors in a timely and accurate manner.Inventory tracking tools — use inventory management software to log materials and equipment consumed during field maintenance activities.Work area cleanliness and organization — maintain trucks and equipment storage areas to established standards, applying attention to detail throughout the workday.
proficient
Pipe and casing connections — perform complex tightening and disconnection tasks autonomously using the full range of wrenches and tongs, troubleshooting thread and seal issues on a live well site.Oil field machinery overhaul — independently dismantle, diagnose, and repair boilers, steam engine parts, and pumping units using hand and power tools across varied field conditions.Flow line integrity management — conduct systematic leak detection walks, interpret electronic detector data, and execute permanent repairs while prioritizing safety and minimal production downtime.Pipeline installation projects — lead laying operations for gas and oil pipelines across non-routine terrain, resolving alignment and connection challenges without direct supervision.Crane and rigging operations — assess load weights and rigging configurations, direct crane movements precisely, and identify unsafe conditions before and during lifts on offshore or onshore decks.Critical thinking in equipment failures — diagnose root causes of mechanical breakdowns in the field, selecting the most effective repair approach under time and resource constraints.Pipe logistics planning — organize the full movement cycle of pipes using winches, lifts, and manual handling methods, ensuring crew safety and equipment integrity throughout.Operations monitoring across a lease — continuously observe multiple systems for performance anomalies, applying judgment to distinguish normal variance from actionable problems.ERP and project management software — enter, retrieve, and analyze work order and equipment data to support maintenance scheduling and resource planning for field operations.Quality control analysis — evaluate completed assembly and repair work against specification standards, identifying and correcting deficiencies before returning equipment to service.
advanced
Crew safety and performance — set behavioral and technical standards for roustabout teams, coaching individuals on correct tool use, leak detection, and pipe handling across multiple active sites.Maintenance strategy development — design preventive maintenance schedules for oil field machinery, pipelines, and wellhead equipment to reduce unplanned downtime at an organizational level.Operational risk oversight — establish and enforce site-specific protocols for critical tasks such as crane lifts, pipeline laying, and pressure equipment repairs, integrating regulatory requirements into daily practice.Workforce development — mentor emerging and developing roustabouts through structured on-the-job training, ensuring competency progression and credential attainment across the crew.Cross-functional coordination — liaise with drilling engineers, safety officers, and logistics teams to align roustabout activities with broader project timelines and production targets.Enterprise technology adoption — lead the implementation and training of ERP, inventory management, and project management software tools for field operations teams.Incident analysis and continuous improvement — investigate equipment failures, near-misses, and leak events to identify systemic causes, reporting findings and driving process improvements at the organizational level.Resource and budget management — plan labor, equipment, and material requirements for multi-site roustabout operations, controlling costs while maintaining service quality and safety compliance.Regulatory and environmental compliance leadership — ensure all pipe laying, leak repair, and machinery operations meet federal and state oil field regulations, serving as the primary point of accountability.Organizational culture and integrity — model and reinforce values of dependability, cautiousness, and integrity across the roustabout workforce, influencing team culture at the department or division level.
Also known as
41 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Roustabout HandOil Field RoustaboutField Service Technician (Field Service Tech)Gas Floor HandRoustabout PusherDumper Bailer OperatorField Service Installation Technician (Field Service Installation Tech)Terminal OperatorOil Rig RoughneckOil Change Technician (Oil Change Tech)Gang WorkerDerrick HandOil Floor HandRoustaboutOil Field LaborerField Technician (Field Tech)Equipment OperatorCathead OperatorWell Service FloorpersonDrill Rig OperatorGun Perforator LoaderField SpecialistOil Rig Floor HandOil RiggerGeneral Service Technician (General Service Tech)Field Service EngineerGenerator Field Service Technician (Generator Field Service Tech)Field Service RoustaboutDumper-Bailer OperatorRig HandConnection WorkerRoustabout Crew PusherFloor Worker, Well ServiceFloorhandOil and Gas RoustaboutFloor HandGun-Perforator LoaderFuel Farm OperatorWell Service Floor WorkerProduction Roustabout