Become an Oil Rig Roughneck

The jobs performed on an oil rig are broken down into three main categories. One of them is drill crew, and roughneck is a job title within that crew. A drill crew usually consists of five individuals who all perform different jobs that form this crew. One of these jobs is a roughneck. It's considered an entry-level position and yet is still one of the most important jobs on the rig. As you might expect by the name roughneck, it can be a physically demanding job, and requires a lot of stamina and courage. Roughnecks work on the floor of the oil rig as well as in the mudroom with some of the machinery and other equipment. They work alongside the pump man and derrick man and report to the driller and his or her assistant. These are the 5 jobs that make up a drill crew.

The roughneck position is key to any successful drill crew, and companies are always looking for new people to join these crews both on and offshore. It's an entry-level position that can be as rigorous as it is rewarding. If you're looking for a great new career with job security, great benefits, high earning potential and half work-years, then a roughneck position might be the perfect job for you. As our need for oil increases and we find new hotspots, we'll need more and more capable and dependable people to work on the platforms - and roughnecks are critical to success.

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Did You Know? There are six different types of oil rigs operating around the world collecting oil every second of every year. That's 31,556,926 seconds a year that barrels are being filled with oil.

Roughneck Duties & Responsibilities

Because a roughneck is such an important position on the crew, it's a must that a roughneck is dependable and capable of pulling through under high stress situations while remaining calm and positive. If you can do this, you have the potential to earn a very good living and advance after time to higher up positions.

Roughnecks have to have a high stamina to do their job well. Typically they work shifts known as a 'tower' which is 12 hours, but on occasion they work extended hours or an entire day on a single project and don't stop until it's done. Roughnecks must be proficient in performing important tasks and duties such as adding new pipe-lengths as drilling gets deeper, cleaning and maintaining the drill equipment, and working in the mud-room. These duties are an integral part of drilling for oil as well as the start up process for creating new wells.

Roughneck Education and Compensation

Most roughnecks start out as roustabouts (unskilled laborers) and within as little as six months of a job well done, they can become a roughneck.

It only takes a high school diploma, passing a physical exam and being dependable to enter the oil rig deck crew as a roustabout. Roustabouts perform jobs such as cleaning the deck, maintenance, painting, and assisting roughnecks.

They spend this time working hard and learning the way of life on the rig. Once they have spent a few months learning, they can move up the ladder. However in some instances, previous experience or advanced education will allow someone to enter the platform as a roughneck.

A roughneck should expect to earn approximately $60,000 a year starting salary. This salary is just an average as some may make less and certainly many make more. The more experience you have, the more you can earn. In addition, those roughnecks who are stationed at remote rigs will earn higher pay. There are also often bonuses and salary increases each year when a worker meets expectations and performs up to standards while remaining safe.

Benefits of the Job and Job Outlook

Although a roughneck works very hard on the rig, they also have time off to enjoy many of the amenities on the platform. Things like game rooms, exercise rooms, movies, Internet and even saunas are available offshore. While on board roughnecks will receive all of their meals complements of their employer, which are usually prepared by a very good cook, so they aren't spending any of their own money while they're working. Even laundry is taken care of. Most people compare being on a rig to being on a cruise ship, except that you'll work 12 hours a day. Imagine all you could do if you had four to six months off every year but still made a yearly income equivalent to a 50 week work-year.

Once you have begun working in the oil and gas industry, you won't only have endless possibilities for career advancement, but you'll also enjoy life-long job security. Our need for natural resources grows more and more everyday and so does our dependency on oil. In fact, our need for oil and gas is expected to double over the next decade, which means more jobs will be created - along with a need for more people to fill them.

Did You Know? Because countries that were typically thought of as third-world countries are catching up in technology, the demand for oil and gas has increased substantially. In fact, it will continue to grow, and the industry will need skilled workers to help them drill for it.

Roughnecks are dedicated and dependable workers who play an integral part of any oil rig and drill crew, but there are many more jobs just as important. Next we'll take a general look at offshore oil jobs.

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Roughneck Job Summary:

• Start as a roustabout and within six months you could be working as a roughneck, earning a very nice salary.
• You can put in your time and work your way up as far up as you want to go.
• Enjoy many benefits like having extended periods off from work to enjoy life.
• You will work hard but enjoy the rewards of teamwork and a job done right.
• You'll never have to worry about your job being out-dated. The oil and gas companies will continue to grow for decades to come, and new hotspots are being discovered all the time

 

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