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Oilfield / Rig Worker

Quick Facts

Median Salary$56,226
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth-8.69%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment

What They Do

An Oilfield or Rig Worker operates machinery used to extract oil, evaluate oil reserves, and maintain oil well sites.


Core 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.

What to expect as an Oilfield / Rig Worker

1Earn a High school or GED Diploma

50% of people achieve this level of education.

2Gain skills and experience

See Oilfield / Rig Worker related courses on Tallo

3Land a job

336 openings for Oilfield / Rig Workers

Career Progression

in United States (Nation)

The career progression is an interactive way to explore careers related to Oilfield / Rig Worker. Click on each career to see its associated salary, job availability, skills, and more.