Roustabout Jobs - Tell Me More

By Monika Nolte

Job, Jobs, Career

With the demand for oil and gas increasing in the world, the industry is expanding their operations and with technology making ever more possible the exploration and extraction of hard-to-get-at oil and gas, jobs, too, are expanding for people with various degrees and even for those with no degree. The first rung of the ladder is usually the roustabout so in this article, we will discuss what the job is all about and what you need to get hired for roustabout jobs.

The expansion of the oil and gas industries as well as the alternative energy sector such as wind farms, makes this the perfect time to try your hand at the entry level roustabout jobs. Yes, the roustabout is the one who does all the dirty jobs necessary to support everyone else working on an oil drilling platform. He takes the supplies off the boats and stows them, he does the scraping and painting of the equipment, deck and work areas, he does the stacking of the pipes for the drilling, he deals with the drilling mud and may even repair the mud pumps. His is a physically demanding job, with lots of lifting, bending and working at heights while dealing with heavy equipment, often in severe weather conditions (depending on the location). He will be working long hours, seven days a week but he gets very well rewarded for what could be called a 'hard grind'. However for someone with just a high school diploma and no experience, the roustabout's job is one way to earn lots of money and enjoy lots of free time as well.

We mentioned the type of work the roustabout does for his 12 hours shifts. The twelve hours off can be spent in the recreational areas as well as sleeping or eating in the crew quarters and canteens. He is likely to have to work those shifts from 2 to 4 weeks at a time, followed by the same amount of time off. Depending on where in the world the roustabout is located, that much time off means he could go home or go travelling.

A roustabout can earn anywhere from $20K to $30K a year as his starting salary. As he progresses up the promotions ladder, his salary could go as high as $50K. In some areas where labour is in short supply like the oil sands fields of Alberta, Canada, earnings can be even higher. Besides the wages, the benefits include full medical and dental, paid room and board while on the rig and very generous retirement pension contributions. Some companies will also give the roustabout an allowance for travelling to and from the heliports used to ferry crew to and from the oil rigs.

What qualities does the person (usually male over the age of 18), have to have to become a roustabout? He has to be in very good mental and physical condition, enjoy physical work and working outdoors sometimes working at heights, be willing to learn and work as part of a team and have the right attitude to safety and work in general. It also helps if doesn't mind being away from home.

To enter this industry, you need to be at least 18 years old, physically and mentally fit and fluent in English. You will have to pass a medical relevant to working offshore, plus follow the rules each country has for having the necessary work permits and training certification.