Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (SOC 47-5071) earn a median $46,960 a year ($22.58 an hour) in the United States, with 44,970 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What roustabouts, oil and gas do
Roustabouts assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools, and perform other tasks as needed. They unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing and pump rods with hand and power wrenches and tongs, dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers and steam engine parts, and bolt together pump and engine parts. They guide cranes as they move loads about decks, and load pipes onto and off trucks with truck winches, motorized lifts or manual effort. Flow lines are walked to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and visual inspection, and the leaks are repaired. Roustabouts also lay gas and oil pipelines and clean the trucks used in the fields. Titles in the occupation include casing crew pusher, connection worker, field service roustabout and cathead operator. Extraction helpers (47-5081), who assist specific craft workers, are a separate occupation.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report that no high school diploma is required, and training happens on the job.
Also called: Casing Crew Pusher, Cathead Operator, Connection Worker, Derrick Hand, Drill Rig Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.51 | $18.68 | $22.58 | $27.94 | $31.03 | $23.65 | 44,970 |
| Annual | $36,420 | $38,850 | $46,960 | $58,120 | $64,530 | $49,200 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where roustabouts, oil and gas earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $23.78 | $27.10 | $29.23 | $34.58 | $38.53 | $30.59 | 430 | 1.33 | 4.60 |
| Annual | $49,470 | $56,380 | $60,810 | $71,930 | $80,140 | $63,620 | ||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $18.68 | $23.42 | $29.08 | $31.20 | $37.64 | $28.40 | 2,460 | 5.72 | 19.77 |
| Annual | $38,850 | $48,720 | $60,480 | $64,890 | $78,290 | $59,070 | ||||
| Montana | Hourly | $22.46 | $23.22 | $28.27 | $29.53 | $35.55 | $27.91 | 200 | 0.40 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $46,710 | $48,300 | $58,800 | $61,420 | $73,950 | $58,050 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.46 | $23.83 | $27.44 | $29.06 | $30.12 | $26.65 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Annual | $38,400 | $49,570 | $57,080 | $60,450 | $62,650 | $55,420 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $23.29 | $23.67 | $25.64 | $28.53 | $28.90 | $25.68 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.13 |
| Annual | $48,440 | $49,240 | $53,340 | $59,350 | $60,120 | $53,420 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.23 | $18.24 | $22.09 | $25.83 | $29.07 | $22.47 | 24,430 | 1.74 | 6.00 |
| Annual | $35,840 | $37,930 | $45,950 | $53,720 | $60,470 | $46,740 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $17.64 | $18.59 | $21.56 | $29.04 | $32.05 | $23.48 | 3,460 | 1.79 | 6.18 |
| Annual | $36,700 | $38,670 | $44,850 | $60,400 | $66,660 | $48,840 | ||||
| Oklahoma | Hourly | $17.44 | $18.50 | $22.72 | $27.15 | $32.00 | $23.64 | 2,730 | 1.60 | 5.53 |
| Annual | $36,260 | $38,480 | $47,260 | $56,460 | $66,550 | $49,180 | ||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $18.68 | $23.42 | $29.08 | $31.20 | $37.64 | $28.40 | 2,460 | 5.72 | 19.77 |
| Annual | $38,850 | $48,720 | $60,480 | $64,890 | $78,290 | $59,070 | ||||
| New Mexico | Hourly | $17.52 | $17.91 | $24.04 | $31.63 | $31.63 | $25.01 | 2,220 | 2.55 | 8.82 |
| Annual | $36,440 | $37,250 | $50,000 | $65,790 | $65,790 | $52,010 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Hourly | $21.54 | $22.53 | $34.27 | $35.75 | $41.74 | $31.70 | 40 | 0.13 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $44,810 | $46,860 | $71,280 | $74,360 | $86,820 | $65,930 | ||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | $27.79 | $27.79 | $32.18 | $36.08 | $36.08 | $32.22 | 60 | 0.06 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $57,800 | $57,800 | $66,940 | $75,040 | $75,040 | $67,020 | ||||
| Jackson, MS | Hourly | $20.03 | $27.38 | $29.04 | $29.04 | $32.44 | $28.03 | 60 | 0.23 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $41,670 | $56,960 | $60,410 | $60,410 | $67,480 | $58,300 | ||||
| Wichita, KS | Hourly | $18.28 | $22.22 | $27.69 | $31.56 | $37.64 | $27.34 | 90 | 0.28 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $38,010 | $46,220 | $57,600 | $65,640 | $78,290 | $56,860 | ||||
| Tyler, TX | Hourly | $17.28 | $17.91 | $26.44 | $26.44 | $28.34 | $23.67 | 250 | 2.20 | 7.60 |
| Annual | $35,950 | $37,250 | $55,000 | $55,000 | $58,950 | $49,230 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $17.76 | $19.10 | $22.72 | $28.40 | $29.74 | $24.11 | 5,850 | 1.78 | 6.15 |
| Annual | $36,950 | $39,730 | $47,260 | $59,070 | $61,860 | $50,140 | ||||
| Midland, TX | Hourly | $17.67 | $19.08 | $22.68 | $25.89 | $28.63 | $22.84 | 3,940 | 32.26 | 111.55 |
| Annual | $36,750 | $39,680 | $47,180 | $53,840 | $59,550 | $47,510 | ||||
| Odessa, TX | Hourly | $17.35 | $17.82 | $21.95 | $22.67 | $27.69 | $21.83 | 2,060 | 25.51 | 88.19 |
| Annual | $36,080 | $37,070 | $45,650 | $47,150 | $57,600 | $45,400 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $18.06 | $19.51 | $23.09 | $29.26 | $30.05 | $24.13 | 1,740 | 0.43 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $37,560 | $40,570 | $48,030 | $60,860 | $62,510 | $50,190 | ||||
| Greeley, CO | Hourly | $21.71 | $22.28 | $23.34 | $24.66 | $28.57 | $24.00 | 910 | 7.60 | 26.29 |
| Annual | $45,170 | $46,340 | $48,540 | $51,290 | $59,420 | $49,920 | ||||
Top industries employing roustabouts, oil and gas
Support Activities for Mining employ 76.9% of roustabouts, oil and gas nationally (34,600 jobs) at a median $47,260 a year ($22.72 an hour), followed by Oil and Gas Extraction (9.4%) and Utility System Construction (6.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Mining NAICS 213100 | 34,600 | 76.9% | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction NAICS 211100 | 4,220 | 9.4% | $48,450 | $23.30 |
| Utility System Construction NAICS 237100 | 2,750 | 6.1% | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) NAICS 5320A1 | 620 | 1.4% | $43,650 | $20.98 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 560 | 1.2% | $38,450 | $18.49 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (44,970). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $38,920 for roustabouts, oil and gas in May 2021 and $46,960 in May 2025, with employment of 34,520 and 44,970.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $38,920 | $18.71 | 34,520 |
| May 2022 | $43,590 | $20.96 | 39,100 |
| May 2023 | $46,340 | $22.28 | 43,830 |
| May 2024 | $47,510 | $22.84 | 45,330 |
| May 2025 | $46,960 | $22.58 | 44,970 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
23 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $29.23 | $60,810 | $49,470 | $80,140 | 430 | 1.33 | 4.60 |
| 2 | North Dakota profile | $29.08 | $60,480 | $38,850 | $78,290 | 2,460 | 5.72 | 19.77 |
| 3 | Montana profile | $28.27 | $58,800 | $46,710 | $73,950 | 200 | 0.40 | 1.37 |
| 4 | Florida profile | $27.44 | $57,080 | $38,400 | $62,650 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| 5 | Nebraska profile | $25.64 | $53,340 | $48,440 | $60,120 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.13 |
| 6 | Indiana profile | $24.87 | $51,740 | $34,760 | $55,820 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.11 |
| 7 | Michigan profile | $24.87 | $51,720 | $38,400 | $69,710 | 290 | 0.07 | 0.23 |
| 8 | Ohio profile | $24.63 | $51,230 | $35,880 | $75,040 | 450 | 0.08 | 0.28 |
| 9 | South Dakota profile | $24.22 | $50,370 | $48,710 | $61,190 | 40 | 0.09 | 0.32 |
| 10 | New Mexico profile | $24.04 | $50,000 | $36,440 | $65,790 | 2,220 | 2.55 | 8.82 |
| 11 | Alabama profile | $23.75 | $49,400 | $36,240 | $67,820 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| 12 | Mississippi profile | $23.67 | $49,240 | $37,300 | $71,930 | 420 | 0.36 | 1.25 |
| 13 | Colorado profile | $23.58 | $49,050 | $45,170 | $60,490 | 1,620 | 0.56 | 1.94 |
| 14 | California profile | $23.50 | $48,880 | $39,110 | $83,930 | 660 | 0.04 | 0.13 |
| 15 | Utah profile | $23.21 | $48,270 | $40,450 | $61,480 | 740 | 0.43 | 1.47 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.85 | $47,520 | $37,980 | $62,950 | 1,610 | 0.27 | 0.92 |
| 17 | Oklahoma profile | $22.72 | $47,260 | $36,260 | $66,550 | 2,730 | 1.60 | 5.53 |
| 18 | Wyoming profile | $22.43 | $46,660 | $37,400 | $63,150 | 1,180 | 4.21 | 14.56 |
| 19 | Illinois profile | $22.36 | $46,500 | $40,030 | $50,500 | 290 | 0.05 | 0.16 |
| 20 | Kansas profile | $22.22 | $46,220 | $39,200 | $75,830 | 570 | 0.40 | 1.37 |
| 21 | Texas profile | $22.09 | $45,950 | $35,840 | $60,470 | 24,430 | 1.74 | 6.00 |
| 22 | Arkansas profile | $21.62 | $44,960 | $39,020 | $64,040 | 120 | 0.09 | 0.32 |
| 23 | Louisiana profile | $21.56 | $44,850 | $36,700 | $66,660 | 3,460 | 1.79 | 6.18 |
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-5071 Roustabouts, Oil and Gas.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-5071, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-5071.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.