Energy
Roustabout
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
Annual openings
161
BLS median wage
$49,050
Typical education
Some jobs may require a High school diploma or GED
10-year growth
+3%
Career requirements
What does this career require?
The education, credentials, and on-the-job competencies Colorado employers expect for this role.
Typical education
Some jobs may require a High school diploma or GED
Credential requirement
No certification is required or expected for this job.
Work experience
This is an entry-level role so no experience is required.
Many people break into the industry doing construction or working on a drilling rig before moving into a more advanced job.
Is this work a fit?
What the work actually feels like
How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.
Automation exposure
High exposure
Many tasks are repeatable, so technology could reshape the day-to-day over time.
A typical day
- 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.