Roustabouts, Oil and Gas: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Roustabouts, Oil and Gas fall under the Construction and Extraction category in the U.S. occupational classification. Roustabouts, Oil and Gas earn a median salary of $47,510 per year, ranking in the top 69% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.5% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do roustabouts, oil and gas earn?

The median annual wage for roustabouts, oil and gas is $47,510. That puts roustabouts, oil and gas at #562 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is roustabouts, oil and gas a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for roustabouts, oil and gas is +2.5%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 46K positions in 2024 to 47K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.

What do roustabouts, oil and gas do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working roustabouts, oil and gas, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
2. 2.Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.
3. 3.Guide cranes to move loads about decks.
4. 4.Lay gas and oil pipelines.
5. 5.Clean trucks used in the fields.
6. 6.Bolt together pump and engine parts.
7. 7.Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.
8. 8.Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks.

Top skills for roustabouts, oil and gas

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become roustabouts, oil and ga?

Roustabouts, Oil and Gas typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

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• Boilermakers
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• Construction and Building Inspectors
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• Pile Driver Operators
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Common questions parents ask about roustabouts, oil and gas