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.
Roustabout responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real roustabout resumes:
- 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.
- Attach pulleys and blocks to fix over head structures such as beams.
- Move supplies and equipment to the worksite and assemble, service, repair and dismantle equipment
- Used all types of hand tools utilize in the oilfield construction such as shovels and picks.
- Inspect all slings, straps and chains for damage or imperfections that would make an unsafe lift.
- Assist in inspection and maintenance of wire and fiber lines, slings, and other lifting equipment.
- Work with welder and helper .Operate A-frame, line out and supervise crew .Submit all permits.Fire watch.
- Perform pipeline/production separator hook-ups and become proficient operating a backhoe and other dirt moving equipment.
- Haul pipes and rods, install motors on equipments, dig pits and lines, and clean up oil spills.Kodiak
- Work with welders and equipment operators in everyday situations to complete natural gas compressor stations.
Roustabout skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Roustabouts are proficient in CDL, Backhoe, and Flow Lines.
We break down the percentage of Roustabouts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CDL, 10%
Completed CDL testing independently to advance my skills in the trade.
- Backhoe, 9%
Install pipeline* Backhoe operator* Truck driver* Spill clean-up crew* Construct buildings* Miscellaneous welding projects* General maintenance and upkeep
- Flow Lines, 7%
Assemble flow lines for well head, verify proper installation of valves and chokes along with the Emergency Shut down valve.
- Oilfield Equipment, 6%
Gained proficiency of typical oilfield equipment i.e.
- Welders, 5%
Worked with welders and equipment operators in everyday situations to complete natural gas compressor stations.
- Manual Labor, 5%
Performed manual labor within conditions that are sometimes less than ideal, such as outdoors during inclement weather.
"cdl," "backhoe," and "flow lines" are among the most common skills that roustabouts use at work. You can find even more roustabout responsibilities below, including:
The three companies that hire the most roustabouts are:
- ShalePro Energy Services18 roustabouts jobs
- danos8 roustabouts jobs
- Woods Services3 roustabouts jobs
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Compare different roustabouts
Roustabout vs. Oil field worker
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. Part of their tasks is to operate cooking equipment like deep fryers and grill, clean the galleys such as pantries and walk-in freezer, and assist in unloading and storing food supplies. Additionally, they may clean rooms, showers, and furniture.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, roustabout responsibilities require skills like "backhoe," "welders," "industrial cleaning," and "production equipment." Meanwhile a typical oil field worker has skills in areas such as "rig," "frac," "ran," and "jsa." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Oil field workers tend to reach similar levels of education than roustabouts. In fact, oil field workers are 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Roustabout vs. Galley hand
Each career also uses different skills, according to real roustabout resumes. While roustabout responsibilities can utilize skills like "cdl," "backhoe," "flow lines," and "oilfield equipment," galley hands use skills like "clean rooms," "rig," "meal preparation," and "fire drills."
Galley hands earn similar levels of education than roustabouts in general. They're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Roustabout vs. Derrickman
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, roustabouts are more likely to have skills like "cdl," "backhoe," "flow lines," and "oilfield equipment." But a derrickman is more likely to have skills like "drilling fluid," "fluid properties," "direct supervision," and "preventative maintenance."
When it comes to education, derrickmen tend to earn similar degree levels compared to roustabouts. In fact, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Roustabout vs. Rigging up worker
Types of roustabout
Updated January 8, 2025
