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Floor hand vs roustabout

The differences between floor hands and roustabouts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a floor hand has an average salary of $36,554, which is higher than the $31,841 average annual salary of a roustabout.

The top three skills for a floor hand include tongs, fall protection and safety equipment. The most important skills for a roustabout are CDL, backhoe, and flow lines.

Floor hand vs roustabout overview

Floor HandRoustabout
Yearly salary$36,554$31,841
Hourly rate$17.57$15.31
Growth rate--
Number of jobs21,9242,055
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 57%High School Diploma, 54%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

What does a floor hand do?

A floor hand is an employee who performs a variety of manual labor tasks in a rig site. Floor hand employees take charge of handling pipes, drilling, and casing equipment. Their responsibilities include rig component equipment repairs and maintenance, assigned activities on the rig floor, and rig up and down movements. They are considered as foundational employees working on the derrick floor. Often, they handle the tough physical jobs on the site.

What does a roustabout do?

Roustabouts are manual workers who are typically employed in the oil and gas drilling industries. They have varied duties to keep the oil and gas rigs run efficiently and safely. Other responsibilities include maintaining the cleanliness of drill sites, transporting and storing materials and supplies to work areas, and installing equipment. They also conduct repairs on broken pumps and other equipment and maintain tools for drilling and extraction. This role's skills and qualifications include a high school diploma, familiarity with site safety procedures, and physical and mental stamina.

Floor hand vs roustabout salary

Floor hands and roustabouts have different pay scales, as shown below.

Floor HandRoustabout
Average salary$36,554$31,841
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $45,000Between $25,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City-Bakersfield, CA
Highest paying state-Nevada
Best paying company-Nabors Industries
Best paying industry--

Differences between floor hand and roustabout education

There are a few differences between a floor hand and a roustabout in terms of educational background:

Floor HandRoustabout
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 57%High School Diploma, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Floor hand vs roustabout demographics

Here are the differences between floor hands' and roustabouts' demographics:

Floor HandRoustabout
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 96.1% Female, 3.9%Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% Asian, 1.2% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 1.2% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between floor hand and roustabout duties and responsibilities

Floor hand example responsibilities.

  • Provide leadership and guidance to direct reports, and manage their efforts to maximize their contribution to operational effectiveness and performance.
  • Perform daily inspection of rig hoisting systems, slips, tongs, and iron roughneck on the rig floor.
  • Certify in CPR and a's.
  • Pull back pipe and run pipe in the hole on the monkey board.
  • Fill out JSA and other paper work.
  • Set tank batteries and build containment dikes.
  • Show more

Roustabout example responsibilities.

  • Swab oil and gas wells.
  • Clamp holding fixtures on ends of hoisting cables.
  • Swab back fluids, fish for part rods and tubing.
  • Experience in operatingdozer, excavator, bobcat and all-terrain crane.
  • Operate and fuel equipment machinery (bobcat and forklift).
  • Check that all bop valves are line up and are functioning properly.
  • Show more

Floor hand vs roustabout skills

Common floor hand skills
  • Tongs, 20%
  • Fall Protection, 7%
  • Safety Equipment, 6%
  • Safety Rules, 6%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 4%
  • Mud Pumps, 4%
Common roustabout skills
  • CDL, 10%
  • Backhoe, 9%
  • Flow Lines, 7%
  • Oilfield Equipment, 6%
  • Welders, 5%
  • Manual Labor, 5%

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