Floorhand

Floorhands, also known as roughnecks, keep the area on and around a drill rig clean and clear of obstructions. They also assist drillers with heavy lifting and other tasks.

Typical duties include:

• Running drill pipe
• Connecting and disconnecting pipe joints
• Repainting equipment
• Performing maintenance on machinery
• Organizing and staging tools
• Assisting other crew members with heavy lifting

Oil companies often schedule floorhands for rotating shifts, such as seven days on and seven days off. It’s also common for a floorhand to work extended hours or switch from day shift to night shift.

Many employers provide on-the-job training, but you may want to search for floorhands with at least one of these certifications:

• SafeLandUSA: SafeLandUSA covers hazard recognition, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), excavation safety and other topics. The program exists to prevent injuries and fatalities in the onshore oil and gas industry.
• First aid/CPR: Floorhands work in remote environments, so it’s helpful if they can perform CPR or basic first aid.
• Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET): The BOSIET program teaches participants about common hazards in the oil and gas industry. It also covers first aid, helicopter evacuation and other safety topics.

Find current salary data for floorhand roles on Indeed Salaries to help benchmark competitive pay.

Roustabout

Roustabouts are responsible for cargo handling, equipment maintenance and groundwork on drilling rigs. They also improve safety by maintaining clean, organized work areas.

Typical duties include:

• Scraping, painting and repairing drilling tools
• Loading and unloading supply shipments
• Cleaning up spills and removing debris
• Assisting welders, mechanics and other crew members
• Monitoring for oil leaks
• Handling hoses during bulk transfers

Some employers prefer their roustabouts to complete the BOSIET program, while others accept other certifications. For example, you may want to search for employees who have the RigPass credential awarded by the International Association of Drilling Contractors.

Find current salary data for roustabout roles on Indeed Salaries to help benchmark competitive pay.

Motorhand

A motorhand maintains and repairs essential equipment, particularly the drilling engine. They may also order replacement parts and handle inventory.

Typical duties include:

• Training newly hired roughnecks
• Monitoring water systems, air compressors and auxiliary engines
• Diagnosing mechanical issues
• Collaborating with roughnecks
• Testing heavy equipment to ensure it’s safe

For applicants with mechanical experience, ask them to describe a breakdown they’ve diagnosed. What did they check before deciding how to repair it?

You may want to prioritize applicants with forklift certification or first aid skills, but many companies provide on-the-job training. It’s also common for companies to offer internal promotions to their floorhands or roustabouts rather than recruiting external applicants for motorhand openings.

Overtime is common, as is travel to and from remote sites. Some companies also provide lodging, such as work camps or paid hotel accommodations.

Find current salary data for motorhand roles on Indeed Salaries to help benchmark competitive pay.

Derrickhand

A derrick is the tall structure used to support drilling machinery at an oil and gas site. Derrickhands manage the drilling string, a column of tools and heavy-duty pipes used in drilling operations. They usually work from a “monkey board,” which is the industry term for a platform on top of a derrick.

Typical duties include:

• Helping other crew members mix drilling compounds
• Assisting motorhands with maintenance
• Monitoring mud systems
• Repairing and maintaining mud pumps, shale shakers and other systems
• Assembling and disassembling the drill rig
• Inspecting drilling mechanisms, valves and hoisting systems

Many companies either pay for lodging or provide a per diem to cover daily food and accommodations. Derrickhands may also receive overtime pay, especially when working long hours to establish a new exploration site.

Find current salary data for derrickhand roles on Indeed Salaries to help benchmark competitive pay.

Oil rig driller

Oil rig drillers manage the team of roughnecks, motorhands and derrickhands on a job site. Their main job is to maximize efficiency. In doing this, drillers support their own supervisor, the oil rig manager.

Typical duties include:

• Steering the drill string with control panels and joysticks
• Tracking mud circulation, penetration rate and other indicators
• Ensuring crew members understand their responsibilities
• Managing unexpected pressure spikes
• Enforcing industry safety rules
• Conducting safety meetings
• Documenting daily drilling progress, equipment performance and depth
• Tracking supply inventory

During interviews, describe an unexpected pressure change and ask candidates what they’d check first and who they’d notify.

Some companies offer extra pay for completing industry certifications or specialized safety courses.

Find current salary data for oil rig driller roles on Indeed Salaries to help benchmark competitive pay.

Oil rig manager

Oil rig managers are usually former drillers who’ve been promoted to manage multiple exploration sites. They often work from drilling camps or company headquarters.

Typical duties include:

• Taking reports from drillers
• Answering employees’ questions
• Reviewing activity logs
• Communicating with middle management about payroll and safety issues
• Ensuring compliance with state and federal laws
• Leading safety drills
• Directing the work of drillers, floorhands and roustabouts
• Overseeing preventive maintenance programs
• Managing training, scheduling and performance evaluations

Some oil rig managers have bachelor’s degrees in business or engineering, but many start as floorhands or roustabouts and advance into management roles.

When evaluating managers, ask how they’ve handled a maintenance delay or staffing shortage. Look for details about how they prioritized the work and kept their crews informed.

Find current salary data for oil rig manager roles on Indeed Salaries to help benchmark competitive pay.

Chemical engineer

Chemical engineers use chemistry, math and physics to design or improve manufacturing processes. In the oil and gas industry, they’re responsible for developing drilling fluids and managing underground chemical treatments.

Typical duties include:

• Analyzing fluid composition to determine the best way to recover natural resources
• Designing chemical injection programs
• Creating systems to remove impurities from extracted materials
• Developing policies for handling hazardous chemicals
• Formulating well-stimulation chemicals and specialized drilling muds
• Resolving drilling issues related to chemicals

Most employers seek a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. You may also want to prioritize applicants with certifications from the American Petroleum Institute (API), such as API 571 or API 580.

• API 571 validates an applicant’s knowledge of damage mechanisms and corrosion processes.
• API 580 confirms their ability to assess and manage risks in the petrochemical industry.

Find current salary data for chemical engineer roles on Indeed Salaries to help benchmark competitive pay.

Petroleum engineer

Petroleum engineers develop the methods used to extract oil and gas from the ground. They often specialize in one aspect of drilling operations, such as:

• Designing and implementing methods for drilling wells
• Estimating the size of an oil reserve and determining appropriate extraction methods
• Identifying the best way to complete a well
• Developing processes or equipment to maximize daily output

Typical duties include:

• Collaborating with geologists and project managers
• Estimating drilling costs and determining the economic potential of a site
• Choosing and testing machinery
• Designing drilling programs
• Troubleshooting equipment issues or mechanical problems
• Monitoring the wellbore to prevent leaks

A petroleum engineer usually has a bachelor’s degree in chemical, petroleum or mechanical engineering. You may also want to validate an applicant’s skills by requiring at least one industry certification.

The Society of Petroleum Engineers offers a credential designed to verify competency in advanced principles of petroleum engineering. If the role requires strong project oversight, consider prioritizing candidates with the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.

Salaries vary based on location, company and work conditions. For example, you may want to pay more if you want a petroleum engineer to travel frequently or stay at remote sites for long periods.

Find current salary data for petroleum engineer roles on Indeed Salaries to help benchmark competitive pay.

Geologist

Geologists use their knowledge of oil-bearing rocks to help plan successful drilling operations. They also analyze rock cuttings to determine where to place drill bits.

Typical duties include:

• Creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional maps
• Analyzing core samples
• Building models with geological software
• Analyzing fluid samples to determine their composition
• Determining the viability of a drilling site

A geologist usually has a bachelor’s degree in geology, earth science, geophysics or another closely related field. You may want to hire someone with relevant industry certifications, such as Certified Petroleum Geologist or Certified Professional Geologist.

Find current salary data for geologist roles on Indeed Salaries to help benchmark competitive pay.