Roustabouts, Oil and Gas Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for roustabouts, oil and gass across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Alaska$63,620
- North Dakota$59,070
- Montana$58,050
- California$56,070
- Florida$55,420
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $63,620 | $60,810 | $31 | +29.3% | 430 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $59,070 | $60,480 | $28 | +20.1% | 2,460 |
| 3 | Montana | $58,050 | $58,800 | $28 | +18% | 200 |
| 4 | California | $56,070 | $48,880 | $27 | +14% | 660 |
| 5 | Florida | $55,420 | $57,080 | $27 | +12.6% | 40 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $54,400 | $50,370 | $26 | +10.6% | 40 |
| 7 | Mississippi | $53,720 | $49,240 | $26 | +9.2% | 420 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $53,420 | $53,340 | $26 | +8.6% | 40 |
| 9 | Michigan | $52,630 | $51,720 | $25 | +7% | 290 |
| 10 | Alabama | $52,160 | $49,400 | $25 | +6% | 70 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $52,010 | $50,000 | $25 | +5.7% | 2,220 |
| 12 | Ohio | $51,940 | $51,230 | $25 | +5.6% | 450 |
| 13 | Kansas | $51,430 | $46,220 | $25 | +4.5% | 570 |
| 14 | Colorado | $51,040 | $49,050 | $25 | +3.7% | 1,620 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $50,970 | $47,520 | $25 | +3.6% | 1,610 |
| 16 | Utah | $50,520 | $48,270 | $24 | +2.7% | 740 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $49,180 | $47,260 | $24 | +0% | 2,730 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $48,960 | $46,660 | $24 | -0.5% | 1,180 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $48,840 | $44,850 | $23 | -0.7% | 3,460 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $48,650 | $44,960 | $23 | -1.1% | 120 |
| 21 | Illinois | $47,640 | $46,500 | $23 | -3.2% | 290 |
| 22 | Indiana | $47,270 | $51,740 | $23 | -3.9% | 100 |
| 23 | Texas | $46,740 | $45,950 | $22 | -5% | 24,430 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 76 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $71,280 | $65,930 | 40 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $66,940 | $67,020 | 60 |
| 3 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $60,810 | $63,580 | 320 |
| 4 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $60,520 | $59,680 | 2,160 |
| 5 | Jackson, MS | $60,410 | $58,300 | 60 |
| 6 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $58,240 | $57,590 | 130 |
| 7 | Wichita, KS | $57,600 | $56,860 | 90 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $55,000 | $49,230 | 250 |
| 9 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $52,640 | $55,060 | 240 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $52,320 | $52,260 | 70 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing roustabouts, oil and gass (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pipeline Transportation | $92,730 | $89,870 | — |
| 2 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $86,160 | $84,310 | 140 |
| 3 | Utilities | $79,830 | $72,260 | 270 |
| 4 | Sector 22 - Utilities | $79,830 | $72,260 | 270 |
| 5 | Engineering Services | $64,960 | $63,900 | 140 |
| 6 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $64,950 | $61,080 | 200 |
| 7 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $64,950 | $62,760 | 180 |
| 8 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $64,950 | $61,080 | 200 |
| 9 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $57,810 | $58,990 | 50 |
| 10 | Natural Gas Distribution | $56,830 | $57,290 | — |
| 11 | Machinery Manufacturing | $51,540 | $60,150 | 180 |
| 12 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $51,540 | $60,150 | 180 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do roustabouts, oil and gas make in the U.S.?
The median roustabouts, oil and gas salary in the United States is $46,960 per year (mean $49,200), and about 80% earn between $36,420 and $64,530.
How much do roustabouts, oil and gas make per hour?
Roughly $24 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $49,200 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays roustabouts, oil and gas the most?
Alaska has the highest average pay for roustabouts, oil and gas at $63,620 per year (median $60,810).
What is the job outlook for roustabouts, oil and gas?
Employment is projected to change +2.5% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 4,300 openings per year.