Rig operator vs pulling unit operator

The differences between rig operators and pulling unit operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a rig operator and a pulling unit operator. Additionally, a rig operator has an average salary of $38,713, which is higher than the $38,499 average annual salary of a pulling unit operator.

The top three skills for a rig operator include CDL, productivity standards and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a pulling unit operator are production equipment, well control, and hand tools.

Rig operator vs pulling unit operator overview

	Rig Operator	Pulling Unit Operator
Yearly salary	$38,713	$38,499
Hourly rate	$18.61	$18.51
Growth rate	-	7%
Number of jobs	30,722	46,018
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 57%	High School Diploma, 57%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	2	2

Rig operator vs pulling unit operator salary

Rig operators and pulling unit operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Rig Operator	Pulling Unit Operator
Average salary	$38,713	$38,499
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $52,000	Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between rig operator and pulling unit operator education

There are a few differences between a rig operator and a pulling unit operator in terms of educational background:

	Rig Operator	Pulling Unit Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 57%	High School Diploma, 57%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Rig operator vs pulling unit operator demographics

Here are the differences between rig operators' and pulling unit operators' demographics:

	Rig Operator	Pulling Unit Operator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5%	Male, 98.0% Female, 2.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 24.6% Asian, 1.2% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%	Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 33.2% Asian, 1.2% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between rig operator and pulling unit operator duties and responsibilities

Rig operator example responsibilities.

Perform maintenance and repair of equipment including welding and fabrication of augers and drill bits.
Train in H2S regulation and prevention.
Regulate boiler blow down, backwash and clean condensers.
Log and sample soil, rock and water for environmental and geotechnical analysis.
Control power hoisting equipment to pull casing, tubing, and rods from production wells.
Operate a 3 man pulling unit, operate a reverse unit, run packers, and daily reports

Pulling unit operator example responsibilities.

Perform day to day operational oversight and maintenance over numerous distillation and utility units in a cresylic acid manufacturing facility.
Transfer to the D/FW area as requested by the company to operate work over rig.

Rig operator vs pulling unit operator skills

Common rig operator skills

CDL, 22%
Productivity Standards, 16%
Customer Satisfaction, 11%
Efficient Maintenance, 8%
Well Control, 6%
Work Ethic, 6%

Common pulling unit operator skills

Production Equipment, 44%
Well Control, 29%
Hand Tools, 22%
RAN, 2%
Safety Procedures, 2%
Frac, 1%