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What is a service rig operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
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ScoreService Rig OperatorUS Average
Salary
3.2

Avg. Salary $41,380

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
7.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.19%

Asian 1.20%

Black or African American 6.87%

Hispanic or Latino 16.72%

Unknown 4.18%

White 68.84%

Gender

female 1.67%

male 98.33%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
9.2

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
0.4

Work life balance is

6.4 - fair

Service rig operator career paths

Key steps to become a service rig operator

  1. Explore service rig operator education requirements

    Most common service rig operator degrees

    High School Diploma

    68.6 %

    Bachelor's

    14.3 %

    Diploma

    5.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific service rig operator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Rig45.62%
    CDL26.99%
    H2S9.46%
    Well Control8.74%
    RAN3.89%
  3. Complete relevant service rig operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New service rig operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a service rig operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real service rig operator resumes.
  4. Research service rig operator duties and 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
  5. Prepare your service rig operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your service rig operator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a service rig operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable service rig operator resume templates

    Build a professional service rig operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your service rig operator resume.
    Service Rig Operator Resume
    Service Rig Operator Resume
    Service Rig Operator Resume
    Service Rig Operator Resume
    Service Rig Operator Resume
    Service Rig Operator Resume
    Service Rig Operator Resume
    Service Rig Operator Resume
    Service Rig Operator Resume
  6. Apply for service rig operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a service rig operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first service rig operator job

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Average service rig operator salary

The average service rig operator salary in the United States is $41,380 per year or $20 per hour. Service rig operator salaries range between $20,000 and $82,000 per year.

Average service rig operator salary
$41,380 Yearly
$19.89 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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