How to hire a drilling field specialist

How to hire a drilling field specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step drilling field specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a drilling field specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new drilling field specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your drilling field specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a drilling field specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a drilling field specialist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a drilling field specialist that fits the bill.

   This list presents drilling field specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Drilling Field Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Drilling Field Specialist		$30-81
   Crew Foreman	A crew foreman coordinates the daily activities in a construction site to ensure that operations adhere to deadlines, budgets, and quality standards. They serve as the point of contact for supervisors, clients, and construction workers... Show more	$19-30
   Crew Leader	Crew leaders are restaurant workers who act as the team leader of the restaurant's crew. They are usually tenured employees with leadership skills who are respected by the team... Show more	$12-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rig
   • Drilling Fluid
   • Technical Guidance
   • Fluid Properties
   • Product Usage
   • Well Control
   • Onsite Services
   • Billing Purposes
   • Fluid Systems
   • MWD
   • JSA
   • Product Inventory
   • Customer Relations
   • RAN

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and approve field tickets receive from vendors and ensures proper AFE and costs codes are used.
   • Assist with hazardous chemicals HSE training and OSHA requirements.
   • Conduct all business activities in accordance with HSE & legal requirements.
   • Set up and perform pre-job function test of all MWD equipment.
   • Perform post job cleaning, inventory, and pack MWD equipment per standards.
   • Monitor all types of JSA's: routine operations, high risk operations, etc.

   More drilling field specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your drilling field specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A drilling field specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, drilling field specialists' average salary in mississippi is 54% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level drilling field specialists earn 62% less than senior-level drilling field specialists.
   • Certifications. A drilling field specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a drilling field specialist's salary.

   Average drilling field specialist salary

   $105,190yearly

   $50.57 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level drilling field specialist salary

   $64,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average drilling field specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Alaska	$179,646	$86
   2	North Dakota	$131,660	$63
   3	Oklahoma	$119,149	$57
   4	Colorado	$109,199	$53
   5	New Mexico	$107,939	$52
   6	Wyoming	$104,359	$50
   7	Louisiana	$101,914	$49
   8	Texas	$89,824	$43

   Average drilling field specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BP America Inc	$141,067	$67.82	7
   2	Baker Hughes	$119,618	$57.51	51
   3	Halliburton	$119,137	$57.28	6
   4	Petrohawk Energy	$109,883	$52.83
   5	Newpark	$107,922	$51.89
   6	Caterpillar	$102,000	$49.04	13
   7	Newmont	$86,735	$41.70

4. Writing a drilling field specialist job description

   A job description for a drilling field specialist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a drilling field specialist job description:

   Drilling field specialist job description example

   Safety Management Systems is seeking Offshore Drilling HSE Specialists to provide HSE support for projects in the Gulf of Mexico.
   
   The HSE Consultant will work with the company and contractor's site management team to develop and implement the project and site safety programs; manage hazard and risk assessments for oil and gas drilling and completions; work with customers to design, enhance, and maintain safety management systems; advise site team (company, contractor, and subcontractors) of company's safety requirements, regulations, expectations, and best practices; provide overall administration, technical guidance, and leadership in complying, interpreting and implementing all regulatory requirements regarding safety; develop and implement Health, Safety, and Security policies and procedures in compliance with group, local, state, and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations and safety best practices; develop best in class HSE performance, drive culture change, and provide demonstrable process improvements; ensure safety policies and procedures are followed by providing suitable assurance audits as deemed necessary; inspect or audit facility activities to detect existing or potential accident and health hazards to ensure gaps are closed; lead investigations and prepare accident root cause investigations; generate reports for management and customers asneeded;may carry/handle equipment; perform all other duties as assigned.
   
   The ideal candidate will have a bachelors degree, degree/certifications in HSE, CSP, ASP, or OHST, and a minimum of 3-5 years of offshore Drilling and Completions experience.
   Must possess a strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations.
   
   Candidate must display:
   
   A proven record implementing various policies and procedures that have resulted in reducing safety incidents in the workplace.
   
   Strong interpersonal and communications skills, both verbal and written. Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and presentation skills.
   
   Ability to demonstrate initiative and assertiveness; to plan and manage work in an efficient manner; to work well under stress and time pressures.
   
   Must be able to read, write, and communicate effectively and professionally with employees and managers. Must possess the ability to write simple correspondence or reports. Must possess the ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to other employees and/or managers.
   
   Must be knowledgeable of company protocols, operational procedures, and safety policies.
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
   
   Acadian'sSafety Management Systems (SMS) deploys registered paramedics specially trained as remote paramedics,HSE consultants, and on-site safety technicians, as well as offers an extensive array of regulatory and compliance training services.
   
   Acadian'sSafety Management Systems (SMS) deploys registered paramedics specially trained as remote paramedics,HSE consultants, and on-site safety technicians, as well as offers an extensive array of regulatory and compliance training services.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find drilling field specialists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any drilling field specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level drilling field specialists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your drilling field specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit drilling field specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit drilling field specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new drilling field specialist

   Once you've found the drilling field specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new drilling field specialist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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