47 Series · SOC 47-5071
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $46,960
- Median / year
- $64,530
- Top 10% earn
- +2.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 44,970
- US workers
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas earn a median of $46,960 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $46,960, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $36,420 (10th percentile) to $64,530 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 44,970 US workers. Alaska pays the most ($60,810), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas earn a median of $46,960, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 25% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #54 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.5% by 2033.
- $46,960
- Median annual wage
- Top 75%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #54 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Alaska at $60,810. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (SOC 47-5071) pays a national median of $46,960 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $36,420 at the 10th percentile to $64,530 at the 90th, with a mean of $49,200 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 44,970 Americans work in this occupation across 23 reporting states and 76 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 4,300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 12.4 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Alaska pays the highest state median at $60,810, which is +29% above the national figure. The top metro is Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA at $71,280 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$46,960
per year
Median Hourly
$22.58/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$49,200
average
Employment
44,970
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Roustabouts, Oil and Gas pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$46,960 Bottom 25% higher than 25% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Roustabouts, Oil and Gas; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 47-series occupations with growth data, Roustabouts, Oil and Gas sits on the slower-growing side at +2.5% growth and $46,960 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2.5%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
4,300
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
12.4/100K
Injury Rate
3.5/100
Danger Index
20.2/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks.
- ▸ Bolt together pump and engine parts.
- ▸ Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.
- ▸ Clean trucks used in the fields.
- ▸ Supply equipment to rig floors as requested and provide assistance to roughnecks.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$36,420
25th Percentile
$38,850
Median
$46,960
75th Percentile
$58,120
90th Percentile
$64,530
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 23 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $60,810 | +29% above national |
| 2 | North Dakota | $60,480 | +29% above national |
| 3 | Montana | $58,800 | +25% above national |
| 4 | Florida | $57,080 | +22% above national |
| 5 | Nebraska | $53,340 | +14% above national |
| 6 | Indiana | $51,740 | +10% above national |
| 7 | Michigan | $51,720 | +10% above national |
| 8 | Ohio | $51,230 | +9% above national |
| 9 | South Dakota | $50,370 | +7% above national |
| 10 | New Mexico | $50,000 | +6% above national |
| 11 | Alabama | $49,400 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Mississippi | $49,240 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Colorado | $49,050 | +4% above national |
| 14 | California | $48,880 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Utah | $48,270 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $47,520 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $47,260 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Wyoming | $46,660 | 1% below national |
| 19 | Illinois | $46,500 | 1% below national |
| 20 | Kansas | $46,220 | 2% below national |
| 21 | Texas | $45,950 | 2% below national |
| 22 | Arkansas | $44,960 | 4% below national |
| 23 | Louisiana | $44,850 | 4% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 76 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $71,280 | +52% above national |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $66,940 | +43% above national |
| 3 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $60,810 | +29% above national |
| 4 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $60,520 | +29% above national |
| 5 | Jackson, MS | $60,410 | +29% above national |
| 6 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $58,240 | +24% above national |
| 7 | Wichita, KS | $57,600 | +23% above national |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $55,000 | +17% above national |
| 9 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $52,640 | +12% above national |
| 10 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $52,320 | +11% above national |
| 11 | Traverse City, MI | $51,720 | +10% above national |
| 12 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $51,630 | +10% above national |
| 13 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $51,360 | +9% above national |
| 14 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $51,230 | +9% above national |
| 15 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $50,650 | +8% above national |
| 16 | Minot, ND | $50,490 | +8% above national |
| 17 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $50,070 | +7% above national |
| 18 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $49,990 | +6% above national |
| 19 | Lafayette, LA | $49,970 | +6% above national |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $49,930 | +6% above national |
| 21 | Farmington, NM | $48,970 | +4% above national |
| 22 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $48,840 | +4% above national |
| 23 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,790 | +4% above national |
| 24 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $48,640 | +4% above national |
| 25 | Greeley, CO | $48,540 | +3% above national |
| 26 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $48,360 | +3% above national |
| 27 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $48,260 | +3% above national |
| 28 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,100 | +2% above national |
| 29 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $48,030 | +2% above national |
| 30 | Pittsburgh, PA | $47,830 | +2% above national |
| 31 | Cheyenne, WY | $47,780 | +2% above national |
| 32 | Grand Junction, CO | $47,720 | +2% above national |
| 33 | Victoria, TX | $47,650 | +1% above national |
| 34 | Tulsa, OK | $47,540 | +1% above national |
| 35 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $47,320 | +1% above national |
| 36 | Casper, WY | $47,270 | +1% above national |
| 37 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $47,260 | +1% above national |
| 38 | Midland, TX | $47,180 | same as national |
| 39 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $47,010 | same as national |
| 40 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $46,800 | same as national |
| 41 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $46,110 | 2% below national |
| 42 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $46,110 | 2% below national |
| 43 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,090 | 2% below national |
| 44 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $46,060 | 2% below national |
| 45 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,060 | 2% below national |
| 46 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $45,940 | 2% below national |
| 47 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,910 | 2% below national |
| 48 | Lake Charles, LA | $45,900 | 2% below national |
| 49 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $45,860 | 2% below national |
| 50 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $45,800 | 2% below national |
| 51 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $45,760 | 3% below national |
| 52 | Wichita Falls, TX | $45,720 | 3% below national |
| 53 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $45,690 | 3% below national |
| 54 | Odessa, TX | $45,650 | 3% below national |
| 55 | Abilene, TX | $45,410 | 3% below national |
| 56 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $44,940 | 4% below national |
| 57 | Lubbock, TX | $44,920 | 4% below national |
| 58 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,800 | 5% below national |
| 59 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $44,630 | 5% below national |
| 60 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $44,410 | 5% below national |
| 61 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,190 | 6% below national |
| 62 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,850 | 7% below national |
| 63 | Longview, TX | $43,200 | 8% below national |
| 64 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $43,110 | 8% below national |
| 65 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $42,670 | 9% below national |
| 66 | Corpus Christi, TX | $42,210 | 10% below national |
| 67 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $41,610 | 11% below national |
| 68 | San Angelo, TX | $40,010 | 15% below national |
| 69 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $38,760 | 17% below national |
| 70 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $38,340 | 18% below national |
| 71 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $38,220 | 19% below national |
| 72 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $37,990 | 19% below national |
| 73 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $37,430 | 20% below national |
| 74 | Enid, OK | $36,700 | 22% below national |
| 75 | Laredo, TX | $36,570 | 22% below national |
| 76 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $34,790 | 26% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 47 (construction and extraction) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Roustabouts, Oil and Gas a good career? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Roustabouts, Oil and Gas pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $58,120/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Alaska leads at $60,810/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.