Drilling rigs are the framework that is being used to extract crude oil from the earth; the term might refer to oil rigs used on land or offshore oil rig platforms used at sea. Workers on these drilling rig platforms (in some cases workers on liquefied natural gas company platforms) range from the well-educated engineers that develop tools and plan methodology to the roustabouts that do the "dirty work" which keeps the drilling rig running smoothly. What is the salary in the oil extraction industry depends upon the job; even for untrained employees, the pay can be attractive.
Supervisors and Engineers on Drilling Rigs
According to a report of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 162,570 people nationwide work on gas and oil drilling rig platforms, as of May 2011. The biggest number of these employees, about 15,720, were petroleum engineers. On the drilling rig, these employees ensure equipment they have designed is running fluently and safely, and they also monitor whether their work plan is being carried out properly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported they earned an average annual wage of US$150,890, which is equal to US$72.55 per hour. Other overseers are including the 4,330 "toolpushers," or extraction foremen, that supervise drilling operations on the oil rig platform. Those people averaged US$79,710 annually, or US$38.32 per hour.
Roustabouts on Oil Rigs
The 2nd-largest group of workers can be found at the opposite end of the wage spectrum from petroleum engineers: the 7,740 roustabouts that clean and provide maintenance of the equipment on the drilling rig platform. The bureau reported that roustabouts are averaged US$35,590 per year, which is equal to US$17.11 per hour. Another hands-on job which is at the low end of the oil rig pay spectrum belonged to the employers that set up and repair rigging on the site. They averaged US$30,080 annually, or US$14.46 per hour.
Pumpers on Drilling Rig Platforms
The 3rd-largest group of workers on drilling rigs were the wellhead pumpers that are engaged with operating and maintaining the large pumps that draw the oil from the earth once the wellhole has reached the underground reservoir. The U.S. Statistics Bureau reported the 7,510 pumpers in the field of oil extraction industry averaged US$43,040 annually, or US$20.69 per hour.
Extraction Work on Oil Rigs
There are 3 main types of skilled employees on drilling rigs which are the service unit operators that maintain wells and pumps, the drillers that run the rotary drills on the oil rig platform and the derrick operators that maintain the support structure. According to the statistic 5,630 service unit operators as of 2011 are averaged US$47,120 annually, or US$22.65 per hour; 4,430 drillers are averaged US$63,400 annually, or US$30.48 per hour; and 2,370 derrick operators, who are averaged US$52,520 annually, or US$25.25 per hour.
Outlook
Oil rig jobs and gas drilling jobs are expected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow at 8% in the years between 2010 and 2020, slower than the average growth of 14% expected for all US jobs. Even though demand is going to be driven by the need for these products, advances in drilling techniques are being expected to result in more efficient production.
According to a report of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 162,570 people nationwide work on gas and oil drilling rig platforms, as of May 2011. The biggest number of these employees, about 15,720, were petroleum engineers. On the drilling rig, these employees ensure equipment they have designed is running fluently and safely, and they also monitor whether their work plan is being carried out properly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported they earned an average annual wage of US$150,890, which is equal to US$72.55 per hour. Other overseers are including the 4,330 "toolpushers," or extraction foremen, that supervise drilling operations on the oil rig platform. Those people averaged US$79,710 annually, or US$38.32 per hour.
Roustabouts on Oil Rigs
The 2nd-largest group of workers can be found at the opposite end of the wage spectrum from petroleum engineers: the 7,740 roustabouts that clean and provide maintenance of the equipment on the drilling rig platform. The bureau reported that roustabouts are averaged US$35,590 per year, which is equal to US$17.11 per hour. Another hands-on job which is at the low end of the oil rig pay spectrum belonged to the employers that set up and repair rigging on the site. They averaged US$30,080 annually, or US$14.46 per hour.
Pumpers on Drilling Rig Platforms
The 3rd-largest group of workers on drilling rigs were the wellhead pumpers that are engaged with operating and maintaining the large pumps that draw the oil from the earth once the wellhole has reached the underground reservoir. The U.S. Statistics Bureau reported the 7,510 pumpers in the field of oil extraction industry averaged US$43,040 annually, or US$20.69 per hour.
Extraction Work on Oil Rigs
There are 3 main types of skilled employees on drilling rigs which are the service unit operators that maintain wells and pumps, the drillers that run the rotary drills on the oil rig platform and the derrick operators that maintain the support structure. According to the statistic 5,630 service unit operators as of 2011 are averaged US$47,120 annually, or US$22.65 per hour; 4,430 drillers are averaged US$63,400 annually, or US$30.48 per hour; and 2,370 derrick operators, who are averaged US$52,520 annually, or US$25.25 per hour.
Outlook
Oil rig jobs and gas drilling jobs are expected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow at 8% in the years between 2010 and 2020, slower than the average growth of 14% expected for all US jobs. Even though demand is going to be driven by the need for these products, advances in drilling techniques are being expected to result in more efficient production.