Roustabouts, Oil and Gas salary in the U.S.
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas in the U.S. earn a median of $46,960 a year ($22.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 44,970 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,530 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $49,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for roustabouts, oil and gas in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| 25th percentile | $38,850 | $18.68 |
| Median | $46,960 | $22.58 |
| 75th percentile | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,530 | $31.03 |
| Average (mean) | $49,200 | $23.65 |
Half of roustabouts, oil and gas earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,913.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,956.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,806.15 |
| Weekly | $903.08 |
| Hourly | $22.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $60,810 | 430 |
| North Dakota | $60,480 | 2,460 |
| Montana | $58,800 | 200 |
| Florida | $57,080 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $53,340 | 40 |
| Indiana | $51,740 | 100 |
| Michigan | $51,720 | 290 |
| Ohio | $51,230 | 450 |
| South Dakota | $50,370 | 40 |
| New Mexico | $50,000 | 2,220 |
| Alabama | $49,400 | 70 |
| Mississippi | $49,240 | 420 |
| Colorado | $49,050 | 1,620 |
| California | $48,880 | 660 |
| Utah | $48,270 | 740 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,520 | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $47,260 | 2,730 |
| Wyoming | $46,660 | 1,180 |
| Illinois | $46,500 | 290 |
| Kansas | $46,220 | 570 |
| Texas | $45,950 | 24,430 |
| Arkansas | $44,960 | 120 |
| Louisiana | $44,850 | 3,460 |
Best-paying metro areas for roustabouts, oil and gas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $71,280 | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $66,940 | 60 |
| Jackson, MS | $60,410 | 60 |
| Wichita, KS | $57,600 | 90 |
| Tyler, TX | $55,000 | 250 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $52,640 | 240 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $52,320 | 70 |
| Traverse City, MI | $51,720 | 100 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $51,230 | 60 |
| Minot, ND | $50,490 | 220 |
| Lafayette, LA | $49,970 | 910 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $49,930 | 800 |
| Farmington, NM | $48,970 | 210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,790 | 120 |
| Greeley, CO | $48,540 | 910 |
Metro areas with the most roustabouts, oil and gas
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,850 | $47,260 |
| Midland, TX | 3,940 | $47,180 |
| Odessa, TX | 2,060 | $45,650 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,740 | $48,030 |
| Greeley, CO | 910 | $48,540 |
| Lafayette, LA | 910 | $49,970 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 800 | $49,930 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 800 | $47,830 |
| Longview, TX | 750 | $43,200 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 620 | $45,690 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 550 | $41,610 |
| Lubbock, TX | 450 | $44,920 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 350 | $46,060 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 340 | $42,210 |
| Tyler, TX | 250 | $55,000 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,160 | $27.96 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $57,010 | $27.41 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,740 | $23.44 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | $70,130 | $33.72 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a roustabouts, oil and gas make in the U.S.?
The median salary for roustabouts, oil and gas in the U.S. is $46,960 a year, or $22.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid roustabouts, oil and gas make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of roustabouts, oil and gas in the U.S. earn at least $64,530 a year. The top 25% earn $58,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for roustabouts, oil and gas in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,420 a year, and a quarter of roustabouts, oil and gas earn $38,850 or less.
How many roustabouts, oil and gas work in the U.S.?
About 44,970 roustabouts, oil and gas are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.