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Rig operator vs service rig operator

The differences between rig operators and service rig 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 service rig operator. Additionally, a service rig operator has an average salary of $41,380, which is higher than the $38,713 average annual salary of a rig operator.

The top three skills for a rig operator include CDL, productivity standards and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a service rig operator are rig, CDL, and H2S.

Rig operator vs service rig operator overview

Rig OperatorService Rig Operator
Yearly salary$38,713$41,380
Hourly rate$18.61$19.89
Growth rate--
Number of jobs30,72226,775
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 57%High School Diploma, 69%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Rig operator vs service rig operator salary

Rig operators and service rig operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Rig OperatorService Rig Operator
Average salary$38,713$41,380
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $52,000Between $20,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between rig operator and service rig operator education

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

Rig OperatorService Rig Operator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 57%High School Diploma, 69%
Most common majorBusinessGeneral Studies
Most common college--

Rig operator vs service rig operator demographics

Here are the differences between rig operators' and service rig operators' demographics:

Rig OperatorService Rig Operator
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 97.5% Female, 2.5%Male, 98.3% Female, 1.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 1.2% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between rig operator and service rig 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
  • Show more

Service rig operator example responsibilities.

  • Employ wide variety of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and electronic testing devices.
  • Operate pumps to move fluid through centrifuges removing solids from drilling fluid.
  • Assist the QA personnel to oversee and calculate fluids for quality verification and management of chemical inventory at well site.
  • Apply exceptional expertise in developing and conceptualizing QA instrumentation and certification standards for different services queues

Rig operator vs service rig operator skills

Common rig operator skills
  • CDL, 22%
  • Productivity Standards, 16%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 11%
  • Efficient Maintenance, 8%
  • Well Control, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
Common service rig operator skills
  • Rig, 46%
  • CDL, 27%
  • H2S, 9%
  • Well Control, 9%
  • RAN, 4%
  • Tongs, 3%

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