The oil and gas industry is one of the largest industries in the entire world. They are responsible for billions of dollars annually, and it’s because of this large presence that there are so many available jobs in oil and gas for anybody who is able to handle the workload. As with any industry, jobs in the oil and gas industry can encompass any type of work, including office work, secretary duties, accountants, engineers, and marketers. The most popular career path though is in offshore drilling. Offshore oil rigs require several rotating crews of able bodied men to maintain the drills, pumps, and other heavy machinery. Entry level positions for offshore drilling are available nearly every where in the world.
If you’ve never worked in the oil and gas industry but want to try your hand at working on an offshore oil rig, there are several positions open for you to choose from. The two most common are known as roughnecks and roustabouts. Companies may either use these terms interchangeably or have specific duties for each one. In any case, roughnecks and roustabouts are responsible for maintaining and cleaning all of the equipment on an oil rig. This includes wiping down the gear, clearing the deck of any obstructions, removing rust that can easily form as a result of the salty sea air, and anything else that is required of them. On rigs where roughnecks perform specific duties, they will also be required to assist the drill crew by screwing pipes together and hauling equipment down to the drill deck.
Oil careers are extremely profitable, if a little dangerous at times. To get started with one of the many oil and gas jobs USA, you usually need no more than a high school degree, or at least a GED. This will be enough to get you on a rig as a roustabout or a roughneck, and from there you will gain experience as you go. A positive attitude, willingness to follow instructions, and a watchful eye to get an idea of the oil rig procedures will get you a swift promotion.
As an unskilled worker on an oil rig, you can typically expect to make as much as $400 per day, which translates into over $40,000 for approximately 6 months of work. The reason you will only work 6 months is that most rig crews follow a 7/7 schedule, meaning that they work for 7 days straight and then are allowed shore leave for the next 7 days. This cycle continues throughout the entire year.
Other oil & gas jobs include driller, toolpusher, instrumentation engineer, derrickman, assistant driller, mudman, mud engineer, and welder, to name a few. All of these earn a very comfortable living, and engineers and managers can make up to $1,000 per day. The opportunities for advancement are nearly unlimited, as most oil companies tend to promote from within the company. All you need to do is get your foot in the door to enjoy a fulfilling career in the oil and gas industry.
