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Roustabouts, Oil and Gas

The occupation Roustabouts, Oil and Gas covers people who assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. The job can ask you to unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs. On the six-type interest model it reads RCI, meaning hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world comes first, followed by orderly work with data, records and clear procedures. Plan on a few months to a year of learning on the job; O*NET labels this some preparation. Strength in critical thinking, quality control analysis, and operations monitoring helps most here. It tends to suit people who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, and it offers little for anyone seeking creative work with room for original expression.

What they do

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

Main 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.

Skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Monitoring
  • Judgment and Decision Making

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on critical thinking and quality control analysis.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Field Service Roustabout
  • Floor Hand
  • Oil and Gas Roustabout
  • Oil Field Roustabout
  • Production Roustabout

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.