Whether the economy is struggling or in a growth mode it is generally believed that a college degree is necessary to be able to earn a really decent wage. While there may be a certain validity to that, not everyone is cut out for college. Fortunately, there are still areas where, if one is willing to work hard, it is possible to earn a very good living without acquiring more education. Offshore oil drilling provides just such an opportunity, and, for those with some industry experience, entry level roughneck jobs are an excellent avenue to consider.
There aren’t many places where someone with no more than a high school education or even simply GED certification and little experience can make a starting salary that is close to double the current minimum wage. In a time where many are working two to three jobs, with zero benefits and barely making enough to pay the bills, roustabouts can expect $26,000 with a range up to around $35,000. With a little experience that same individual can move up to a roughneck salary that ranges from $40,000 to in excess of $50,000.
When the economy struggles, employers start cutting costs. Often this results in decreasing staff or cutting or totally eliminating benefits, especially in the area of medical insurance. As premiums have skyrocketed, companies have been anxious for an excuse to stop providing coverage for their employees and more and more are doing so. Offshore roughneck jobs, as well as the other positions offshore have, thus far, escaped these cuts.
Traditionally, the most common career path for a roughneck was to gain hands-on experience as a roustabout, and then, as skills and experience warranted, move into the roughneck position and later on to that of becoming a driller. As competition for good jobs increased and the demand for petroleum products continued to rise, roughneck training schools started to pop up around the world. While some are marginally useful and others out and out scams, there are some that provide valuable experience and are respected throughout the oil industry. These are not inexpensive, but some come with the added advantage of assisting with employment following completion of the course.
The oil rig roughneck still works in land-based oil field operations. There are roughneck jobs in Texas, Oklahoma and throughout the west. For those who don’t mind the cold there are even roughneck jobs in North Dakota. More often, however, roughneck employment these days is found on offshore drilling rigs and platforms. For those with little to no experience, the most common way to get started working in the offshore oil industry is that of the general labor roustabout. After about six months to a year, provided that an individual has demonstrated a strong work ethic and learned the basics of how things operate, there is often the opportunity to move up to the position of roughneck.
Offshore roughneck jobs entail duties that require experience and are more skilled. They work under the driller, who is the drilling crew supervisor, and are responsible for the basic operations of the drilling equipment and machinery. This includes aligning, tightening and unscrewing pipes as new lengths are added as well as and positioning casing, tubing and pump rods. They collect cutting and core samples. The cleaning, maintenance and repair of the drilling equipment is also their responsibility.
One of the critical areas aboard a drilling rig is the mud room. Drilling mud is what is used as a lubricant for the drill bits and at least one drilling roughneck is typically always on duty in the mud process area. They assist in repairing the mud pumps and participate in the preparation and mixing of the drilling mud. Roustabouts gain valuable experience working in the mud rooms when they are assigned as reliefs for the roughnecks during meal breaks.
Most offshore operations run 24 hours a day, and a roughneck will normally pull shifts that are 12 hours on and then 12 hours off. Cycles generally run for two to three weeks and are then followed by a break of at least two weeks off. Workers are transported to shore for their off-time and may receive travel compensation for their airfare to their home base.
Most jobs aboard offshore drilling rigs or platforms are physically demanding but this is especially the case with roustabout and roughneck oil rig jobs. There is a reason for that relatively generous salary. In addition, this type of work environment carries a high risk of injury. All offshore workers wear protective gear while on duty. This may include hard hats, gloves, goggles, different types of harnesses and noise suppression ear plugs. Those working around boilers or steam engine parts must also wear thermal suits. Roughneck training is ongoing and constantly includes an emphasis on safety. Emergency drills are routine for all employees working offshore, and many are also required to be proficient in responding to fires and pass courses in survival training.
If an above average salary and a lot of time off in which to enjoy it appeals to you, how do you know if you have what it takes to work offshore as a roughneck? Obviously, you must be willing to work long hours in a position that is extremely physically demanding. Roughneck pay is as high as it is because the work can be grueling, is usually dirty and often done in extreme weather conditions. For two to three weeks, a roughneck will do little more than work, sleep and eat.
Besides having to be at least 18, to qualify for most offshore positions, an individual should have a high school diploma or GED completion and be in excellent physical condition. A thorough medical evaluation will be required as well as standard drug testing. Even though the work is primarily manual labor, there is data that needs to be collected and recorded so a familiarity with computers is a definite plus. Comparable experience, for instance in construction or mechanical repair or maintenance, counts heavily on a resume.
One of the reasons that there are roughneck job openings on a fairly consistent basis is that many times a roughneck will gain sufficient skills and experience to move up to the position of derrick operator or eventually become a driller. However, another common reason is that there is a high turnover due to the demands of the position and the fact that it is too difficult for many to be away from home for such extended periods of time. While many may embrace this part of the lifestyle as being a benefit, others are simply not cut out for it. This is something that should be carefully considered in advance, although it often takes the actual experience itself for one to know how they will react.
Working offshore means living offshore for half the time. Consequently, another essential element on a roughneck job description is the ability to be able to work and live with others in a very small and confined space. The stereotype of oil workers as being rowdy brawlers can even be seen in the title itself of “roughneck”. This type of behavior may have been the norm in the early days of the old west, but it is not the case on today’s modern offshore facilities. The safety and welfare of all aboard is affected by the behavior and performance of each worker, including the roughneck. Anyone unable to work as part of team, pull their own weight on a timely and consistent basis and respect the limited privacy of others is not a candidate for this sort of environment, and it is highly unlikely that they will last long.
The flip side to the necessity of being able to get along well with others and be a team player is that most offshore rigs and platforms take on the feeling of home for those who work on them for any length of time. Many old timers will tell you that it’s not the roughneck wages that they love so much about the life: it’s the camaraderie that develops onboard. This is much the same thing that happens with soldiers stationed overseas, which is also a reason that you will find a lot of former military service members working offshore in the oil industry.
Oil rig roughneck jobs, like most other offshore drilling rig and platform jobs have traditionally been held by men. This has been changing, although not at a rapid rate. Women can now be found on most rigs and platforms. They serve mainly in management positions, as engineers or can be found as cooks and in housekeeping. The more rare female roughneck still has a lot of hurdles to leap on most rigs before becoming accepted as a member of the team. She will often have to be tougher and work harder. This is much the same as it has been in other male-dominated areas but the trend is toward equality, albeit the progress is slow.
What does the future hold for roughnecks and the oil industry in general? There is no argument that the demand for petroleum based products is at an all-time high and, despite conservation efforts, does not seem to be declining. Nonetheless, there is a finite amount of oil on the planet, and, eventually, it is simply going to run out. Add that to the damage that has been and is continuing to be done to the environment and there are those that will tell you that the oil industry is not the direction to look when making a career choice.
Concerns about the oil industry is something that should be taken into consideration. However, prior to the disastrous Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, employment prospects for individuals involved in the offshore exploration and extraction of oil was better than for most other industries. Because U.S. energy consumption is expected to continue to increase through at least 2030, many still believe that to be the case as long as oil companies adhere to stricter safety guidelines and prevent further incidents. This is good news not only for petroleum engineers, rig operators and other skilled positions but also for the inexperienced roustabout and those ready for the next step up as a roughneck.
Whether one is looking for offshore roughneck jobs in Louisiana or roughneck jobs in Wyoming there is still opportunity out there. Does this mean that you are guaranteed to find a job or, when you do, that you will have job security for the rest of your life? Of course not. Roughneck oil jobs, whether in Canada, the Gulf of Mexico or somewhere in the Middle East are no different from any other job in that security is a thing of the past. Those days where you started with a company when you were young, worked 40 years or so and retired with a pension and a gold watch are long gone. That’s as true for roughneck work as it is for every other type of job.
Perhaps the best advice for those searching for roughneck jobs is to be smart and think ahead. As should now be clear, this kind of work is very physically demanding and usually done by those who are young and in great shape. Unfortunately, the young do not do well at planning for the future and so those two to three weeks off the rig are spent in partying and spending most, if not all, of those better than average wages. A far wiser course would be to recognize that roughneck oil jobs are great for awhile but not something to count on for the long haul. Saving some of that money and taking advantage of the opportunity to develop the skills that are available for learning on a drilling rig or platform can be used to build a future.
Although not for everyone, there is a lot to be said for pursuing this kind of work. Offshore roughneck jobs, especially, can be financially rewarding and challenging. And if all of that isn’t enough, spend some time with some “old timers” listening to their stories. They will either terrify you or have you looking for the nearest roughneck vacancies!