Looking for best paying jobs in oilfield services/equipment? Then you are at the right place. Salary ranges in the oilfield services/equipment business can easily exceed $100,000 per year due to the industry’s prominence and the tremendous profitability it generates.
The high income helps compensate for the difficult and distant working circumstances.
Many people are drawn to the sector because of its promising future and the promising salaries that come with it. So, if you also decided to pursue your career in this field, check out the best paying jobs in oilfield services/equipment that you can do in 2022.
What Do Oilfield Workers Do?
Oilfield employees are responsible for the extraction, transportation, and distribution of petroleum, natural gas, and other petroleum products.
The majority of jobs nowadays include extended periods of time spent away from family and friends, sometimes in unfamiliar environments, and often involving long hours of labor.
However, workers in such situations are usually paid monetarily and with time off.
After returning to the mainland from working on a rig for an extended period of time, employees are given several weeks off before being transferred to the next location.
Is Oilfield Services/Equipment A Good Career Path?
Well, yes it is a good career path. But it’s for those who really are interested in this line of work. Jobs with high salaries are possible for those who pursue a career in oilfield services and equipment. But it’s not without its difficulties. Long working hours, strenuous physical requirements, and the risk of serious injury or death all qualify as such drawbacks.
Drilling engineers, geologists, drillers, and wellsite managers are just a few examples of the professionals employed by the oil and gas industry. Various occupations on this list require greater physical exertion than others, but they all have their advantages.
What Is The Average Salary Of An Oilfield Services/Equipment Worker?
Professionals in this field can expect to make an average hourly wage of between $15 and $40. But this is depending on the jurisdiction since some jurisdictions pay greater rates than other owing to specific considerations. However, technicians and supervisors may expect to earn roughly $35 per hour on average, with lower salary ranges of $15 to $25 per hour. You will also be eligible for pensions and group insurance, among other benefits.
How Many Jobs Are Available In Oilfield Services/Equipment Workers?
According to the preliminary statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and analysis by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, the number of people employed in the oilfield services and equipment industry in the United States increased by an estimated 2,698 in March, reaching 608,702.
Manufacturing machinery, chemicals, and petroleum and coal products were among the six sectors that saw growth.
Data showed that there were 608,702 total OFS positions, which is the most since September 2021 when total jobs returned to 643,057 but are still lower than the pre-pandemic high in February 2020 when there were 706,528 jobs. Overall U.S. companies added 431,000 jobs in March, somewhat lower than predicted but nevertheless resulting in a decrease in the unemployment rate from 3.8% to 3.6%.
10 Best Paying Jobs In Oilfield Services/Equipment Worker
Gas Plant Operator
To distribute gas to utilities and industrial facilities, Gas Plant Operators manage and maintain pipeline infrastructure.
By activating the compressors, gas is pushed into the pipelines as needed. It is common practice to work in shifts to ensure that someone is always there to maintain the compressors and pipes.
The salary range for a gas plant operator is $44,000-$105,000.
Petroleum Geologist
Petroleum geologists use sophisticated tools and drills to explore the earth for oil and gas deposits.
Based on the site’s geological composition, they advise corporations on where to drill and how to drill.
Earnings for petroleum geologists range from $97,000 to $117,000.
Backhoe Operator
Holes, trenches, and ditches may all be dug with the help of a backhoe operator or excavator operator. In addition to breaking rock, filling in holes, and leveling slopes, they also load, scoop, and dump heavy items.
In order to work as a backhoe operator, you need to be able to lift large objects and have high school graduation or equivalent. While certification or license isn’t strictly necessary for this role, getting the proper education is essential.
The Median Annual Wage in the United States is $54,000.
Front-End Loader Operator
Those who operate front-end loaders, also known as power shovels, are responsible for moving and directing the equipment’s arms and buckets. Earth, gravel, and sand are just some of the heavy materials they haul and deposit in piles, excavations, and vehicles.
You may become a front-end loader operator with just a high school certificate or GED, but if you want to get more formally educated for this work, you can take a certification course and look into an apprenticeship.
Annual Wage: $32,000 on Average
Oil tester
During the planning and construction of a drilling site, pipes are routinely evaluated and assessed for risk and stability. Training in the field is usually all that’s needed to become an oil tester, however, high school graduation is usually required.
The Average Annual Salary is $44,061
Well-Tester
To guarantee stability and the safe transport of oil via pipelines, well-testers conduct tests and risk assessments during pipeline development.
They collaborate with other people who are specialists in this field to gather information on the chemical makeup of the subterranean oil or gas reserve their business expects to drill into, and then report their findings to management.
A well tester’s salary might range from $58,000 to $106,000 annually.
Heavy Equipment Operator II
Heavy Equipment Operator IIs are journey-level construction workers who are responsible for the safe and effective operation of complicated heavy machinery.
Roads, bridges, buildings, and even gas and oil pipelines might all benefit from the utilization of heavy construction equipment.
Wages for Heavy Equipment Operator IIs typically range from $38,000 to $42,000.
Heavy equipment operators, for instance, might make $47,000 a year in the oil and gas business.
Crane Operator
In order to lift, move, position, or put heavy machinery, equipment, and other things, crane operators are in charge. It is possible to safely secure loads to hoists and remove them with the press of a button, the turn of a lever, or the application of a pedal.
In order to operate a crane legally, you may need to complete an apprenticeship lasting anywhere from one to three years, in addition to formal classroom instruction, technical instruction, and tests, before being issued a journeyman certificate.
Wages: $51,000 per year on average
Bulldozer Operator
To move impediments like dirt, sand, rock, and gravel, as well as other machinery, bulldozer operators use crawler tractors with massive front blades. They can easily shred up terrain thanks to their back rippers.
To become a bulldozer operator, the bare minimum of education is a high school diploma or its equivalent. However, certain companies may insist on further schooling, including arithmetic and car mechanics classes.
In General, People Make About $27,000 Per Year
Heavy Equipment Operator III
Those with the Heavy Equipment Operator III designation operate a wide range of heavy machinery and are responsible for a wide range of sophisticated and challenging tasks.
To ensure that duties are completed in a timely and safe manner, those in these jobs are also responsible for supervising the efforts of other workers and machine operators.
Worker scheduling, activity coordination, and supervision are all part of a Heavy Equipment Operator Supervisor’s job description.
In addition to these duties, you will also be responsible for keeping detailed records, compiling reports, overseeing routine maintenance, and helping with the recruiting and training of new staff members.
Tips for Getting a Job as a Supervisor of Heavy Equipment Operators: High school diploma or equivalent is necessary, as well as at least three years of experience working as a Heavy Equipment Operator II.
The Median Annual Wage is $64,000
Conclusion – Best Paying Jobs In Oilfield Services/Equipment
Not everyone is cut out for working in Oilfield Services and Equipment. However, if you’re determined on a career in oilfield services and equipment, we hope that our list of the best paying jobs in oilfield services/equipment will help you find a position that suits your skills and interests. Keep checking our portal for different career path options and high-paying jobs.