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Energy

Roustabout

Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.

Annual openings

161

Median wage

$49,050

Typical education

Some jobs may require a High school diploma or GED

Growth 2026–2032

+3%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

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

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