How to hire a roustabout

How to hire a roustabout, step by step

Here's a step-by-step roustabout hiring guide:

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

What does a roustabout do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The roustabout hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A roustabout's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, roustabouts from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of roustabouts.

   Type of Roustabout	Description	Hourly rate
   Roustabout		$12-18
   Galley Hand	Galley hands, also known as utility hands, are usually tasked to assist the cook in preparing the food and dining room, in serving the meals, and in cleaning up the kitchen. In doing so, they should have good communication skills, can follow specific instructions, and can interact with people... Show more	$12-38
   Floor Hand	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... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Backhoe
   • Flow Lines
   • Oilfield Equipment
   • Welders
   • Manual Labor
   • Tongs
   • Safety Procedures
   • Production Equipment
   • Frac Tanks
   • Visual Inspections
   • Hoists
   • General Cleanup
   • Dismantle

   Check all skills

   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.

   More roustabout duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, roustabouts' average salary in florida is 41% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level roustabouts earn 36% less than senior-level roustabouts.
   • Certifications. A roustabout 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 roustabout's salary.

   Average roustabout salary

   $15.31hourly

   $31,841 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level roustabout salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated February 1, 2026

   Average roustabout salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$37,919	$18
   2	Wyoming	$35,620	$17
   3	Pennsylvania	$31,982	$15
   4	West Virginia	$31,487	$15
   5	Texas	$30,877	$15
   6	Alaska	$26,595	$13
   7	Louisiana	$25,769	$12

   Average roustabout salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Nabors Industries	$36,578	$17.59	2
   2	Waste Management	$34,298	$16.49	1
   3	Coterra Energy	$34,030	$16.36	2
   4	Kinder Morgan	$33,580	$16.14
   5	Woods Services	$32,455	$15.60
   6	US Ecology	$32,375	$15.56
   7	SL	$32,157	$15.46
   8	Chugach Alaska	$31,648	$15.22
   9	Olson	$31,329	$15.06
   10	Amec Foster Wheeler	$30,846	$14.83
   11	danos	$30,802	$14.81	39
   12	Select Energy Services	$30,366	$14.60
   13	ShalePro Energy Services	$30,053	$14.45	25
   14	Cimarex Energy Co.	$29,903	$14.38
   15	ManpowerGroup	$29,887	$14.37	4
   16	Keystone Clearwater Solutions	$29,779	$14.32	4
   17	Endeavor Energy Resources	$29,032	$13.96

4. Writing a roustabout job description

   A good roustabout job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a roustabout job description:

   Roustabout job description example

   Nabors Industries owns and operates one of the world's largest land-based drilling rig fleet and is a provider of offshore drilling rigs in the United States and multiple international markets. Nabors also provides directional drilling services, performance tools, and innovative technologies for its own rig fleet and those of third parties. Leveraging our advanced drilling automation capabilities, Nabors' highly skilled workforce continues to set new standards for operational excellence and transform our industry.
   
   Nabors is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, religion, age, color, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. To learn more about our Fair Employment practices, please refer to the Nabors Code of Conduct.
   
   The job of the Roustabout is to safely and efficiently perform all manual labor tasks throughout the rig. The Roustabout works under the direction/ supervision of the Forklift Operator, but reports to the Rig Manager.
   Key Relevant Tasks:
   · Assists the Forklift Operator with offloading and back loading of supply vehicles.
   · Performs housekeeping activities on the rig including washing, chipping and painting
   · Assists Forklift Operator with moving and relocating supplies, pipe and other equipment on the rig which involves attaching slings and cables to the object being moved.
   · Assists the Derrickhand within the mud pit, mud pump and chemical sack rooms
   · Performs simple maintenance and repairs to the plumbing and sewer systems
   · When trained, relieves the floorhands on the drilling crew
   · Performs other general labor duties as assigned
   
   Essential Functions:
   · Attention span to stay alert and attentive for up to 12 hour tour while performing sometimes repetitive and monotonous tasks
   · Able to work 14 days on and 14 days off, including holidays, weekends and or days and nights; and able to work and live with others in relatively close confines.
   · Able to receive verbal and written instructions
   · Must be able to maintain good footing while standing and walking for a minimum of 4 hours at any one time, including standing and walking on steel decking and grating or possibly on wet, oil or icy surfaces.
   · Must be able to repetitively lift and carry items weighing upwards of 50 lbs up and down stairs and/or distances up to 150 feet.
   · Must be able to exert a push or pull force of up to 120 lbs while holding the tag lines of equipment and pipe during loading and offloading procedures
   · When assisting with work on a supply or cargo vehicle, the Roustabout must be able to identify hand signals at a distance of 150 feet from the Forklift Operator.
   
   Able to bend, stoop, kneel, twist, and crawl throughout the tour work shift while wearing Personal Protective Equipment at all times
   
   · Other duties as required by the Forklift Operator, Driller or Rig Manager
   Qualifications Minimum Qualifications:
   · Ability to perform essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodations
   · Ability to wear respiratory protective devices
   · Ability to successfully complete Rig Pass
   · Must have reliable transportation to and from the airport for transportation to the rig or job site
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   · High school diploma or equivalent Job: OPERATIONSPrimary Location: United States Of America-Alaska-Anchorage-(Nabors Alaska Drilling) Alaska Prudhoe Bay

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find roustabouts 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 roustabouts they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level roustabouts 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 roustabout job on Zippia to find and recruit roustabout 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 roustabouts, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 roustabout

   Once you've selected the best roustabout candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new roustabout first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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