SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 47-5071.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $36,420 | $3,035 | $700 | $17.51 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $38,850 | $3,238 | $747 | $18.68 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $46,960 | $3,913 | $903 | $22.58 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $58,120 | $4,843 | $1,118 | $27.94 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $64,530 | $5,378 | $1,241 | $31.03 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas is $46,960, which is 8% lower. Among the 60 occupations of the field Construction and Extraction, it ranks number 54 by median pay. With 44,970 jobs, it makes up about 2.9 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas pay by state
The highest median pay was in Alaska ($60,810), North Dakota ($60,480) and Montana ($58,800). The lowest was in Louisiana ($44,850), Arkansas ($44,960) and Texas ($45,950). The most jobs were in Texas (24,430), Louisiana (3,460) and Oklahoma (2,730). The occupation is most concentrated in North Dakota, where its share of all jobs is 19.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 430 | $60,810 | $63,620 | $29.23 |
| North Dakota | 2,460 | $60,480 | $59,070 | $29.08 |
| Montana | 200 | $58,800 | $58,050 | $28.27 |
| Florida | 40 | $57,080 | $55,420 | $27.44 |
| Nebraska | 40 | $53,340 | $53,420 | $25.64 |
| Indiana | 100 | $51,740 | $47,270 | $24.87 |
| Michigan | 290 | $51,720 | $52,630 | $24.87 |
| Ohio | 450 | $51,230 | $51,940 | $24.63 |
| South Dakota | 40 | $50,370 | $54,400 | $24.22 |
| New Mexico | 2,220 | $50,000 | $52,010 | $24.04 |
| Alabama | 70 | $49,400 | $52,160 | $23.75 |
| Mississippi | 420 | $49,240 | $53,720 | $23.67 |
| Colorado | 1,620 | $49,050 | $51,040 | $23.58 |
| California | 660 | $48,880 | $56,070 | $23.50 |
| Utah | 740 | $48,270 | $50,520 | $23.21 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,610 | $47,520 | $50,970 | $22.85 |
| Oklahoma | 2,730 | $47,260 | $49,180 | $22.72 |
| Wyoming | 1,180 | $46,660 | $48,960 | $22.43 |
| Illinois | 290 | $46,500 | $47,640 | $22.36 |
| Kansas | 570 | $46,220 | $51,430 | $22.22 |
| Texas | 24,430 | $45,950 | $46,740 | $22.09 |
| Arkansas | 120 | $44,960 | $48,650 | $21.62 |
| Louisiana | 3,460 | $44,850 | $48,840 | $21.56 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Helpers--Extraction Workers$47,730 a year
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters$47,550 a year
- Construction Laborers$47,120 a year
- Helpers--Roofers$44,160 a year
- Helpers--Carpenters$43,780 a year
- Helpers--Electricians$42,670 a year
Common questions
How much do Roustabouts, Oil and Gas earn in the United States?
The median pay was $46,960 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,420 and the highest-paid 10% more than $64,530.
How many people work as Roustabouts, Oil and Gas?
About 44,970 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.