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What Are the Different Types of Gas and Oil Industry Jobs?

Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen

There are a wide variety of different gas and oil industry jobs, from unskilled laborers to highly educated scientists. Each phase of the exploration, extraction, refining, and distribution process has a different set of jobs. Oil exploration is typically performed by scientists who do land surveys and examine samples to determine if there are economically extractable hydrocarbons in an area. The extraction phase includes both skilled and unskilled labor in addition to engineers and other positions that require significant amounts of education. Other gas and oil industry jobs relate to the refining process and distribution systems.

The first category of gas and oil industry jobs are related to hydrocarbon exploration. Scientists, such as geologists and geophysicists, typically perform this type of work. These highly trained scientists typically use seismic data to determine which areas are likely to hold stores of oil or natural gas.

Pumpjack oil wells must be manned by operators and regularly maintained.
Pumpjack oil wells must be manned by operators and regularly maintained.

Geologists known as mud loggers are also employed during exploratory drilling to examine the strata removed from new wells. Careful examination of these cuttings can sometimes reveal the presence of hydrocarbons. Reservoir engineers can also be employed to design wells and optimize drill sites at this point.

During the drilling phase, many other gas and oil industry jobs can come into play. Unskilled laborers who assist in the drilling process are typically known as roustabouts. These individuals can assist more skilled laborers and often perform various maintenance operations around drill sites. The skilled laborers are often known as roughnecks, and they typically perform various tasks that relate to the drilling process. This process is often overseen by an individual known as a driller, and involves various other highly skilled manual labor jobs.

An offshore oil platform needs engineers, a maintenance crew, operations personnel, and many other workers.
An offshore oil platform needs engineers, a maintenance crew, operations personnel, and many other workers.

Offshore gas and oil industry jobs include divers and the various crew members required to operate vessels and stationary rigs. Divers are often hired to repair broken equipment and can be based off boats or oil rigs. Boats that are used to deliver divers to work sites require various skilled crew positions, and oil rigs also have a variety of support staff. Engineers are typically employed to design oil rigs and mobile drilling platforms, though they can also be employed to plan and oversee particular operations.

There are many different jobs on an oil rig.
There are many different jobs on an oil rig.

Gas and oil industry jobs at refineries tend to involve skilled labor, knowledge of a trade, or an engineering degree. The job of a refinery operator is to monitor the various equipment and oversee the starting and stopping of refinery processes. Most refineries also employ a variety of instrument technicians, electricians, and maintenance mechanics. Other positions include chemical, electronic, and mechanical engineers.

Discussion Comments

Drentel

Not everyone working in the oil industry in general or on oil wells specifically is making a fortune. The amount of money you make depends on the job you have and the company you work with. There are plenty of guys on oil wells who are looking for better paying jobs. Also, the workers making more money are often doing so because they are working a large number of overtime hours.

Animandel

@Feryll - Working on oil rigs can be very dangerous. In fact, working on offshore oil rigs is rated as one of the most dangerous professions. I think this is in large part because of the long work hours, the heavy equipment used and the potential for explosions. Also, the location makes getting medical help more challenging when an accident does occur. I think all of the dangers are the reason why wages have to be good.

Feryll

I went to college with a guy who majored in business and he earned his degree in business management. He was in the top of his graduating class, and he landed a job with a large corporation. He worked at the corporation for a year. He was putting in long hours and the work was stressful.

After the first year, he quit. He had read about the availability of job on oil rigs in Texas and Arkansas and that is where he headed. He went from wearing a suit and tie to work every day to wearing blue collar attire, which was covered in sludge by the time his shift ended. He has now been working on the rigs for about five years, and he says he has never regretted his decision to leave the corporate workforce.

I work in an office, and I work in the profession I prepared for in college. I earn about half of what the guy working in the oil industry makes. Some days, I seriously consider a career change, especially after a particularly tough week.

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    • Pumpjack oil wells must be manned by operators and regularly maintained.
      By: Edelweiss
      Pumpjack oil wells must be manned by operators and regularly maintained.
    • An offshore oil platform needs engineers, a maintenance crew, operations personnel, and many other workers.
      By: eyeidea
      An offshore oil platform needs engineers, a maintenance crew, operations personnel, and many other workers.
    • There are many different jobs on an oil rig.
      By: lightmoon
      There are many different jobs on an oil rig.
    • Divers are used to repair damage to the underwater parts of an oil rig.
      By: eothman
      Divers are used to repair damage to the underwater parts of an oil rig.
    • Oil tanker crews transport both crude and refined oil over waterways.
      By: keller
      Oil tanker crews transport both crude and refined oil over waterways.
    • Oil refineries employ a number of engineers, mechanics, and white collar managers.
      By: Tomas Sereda
      Oil refineries employ a number of engineers, mechanics, and white collar managers.