Skip to main content
National Careers Service

beta How could we improve this service? Your feedback will help.

  1. Home
  2. Explore careers
  3. Roustabout

Roustabout

Alternative titles for this job include Oil rig worker, oil and gas worker

Roustabouts work on oil and gas rigs, maintaining equipment, unloading supplies and helping the drilling team with tasks.

Average salary (a year)

£28,000 Starter

to

£48,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

Variable

You could work

days / nights / weekends on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through an apprenticeship or by applying directly.

Apprenticeship

You could do an apprenticeship before applying to work on offshore rigs, such as an Engineering Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship or a Maintenance and Operations Engineering Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Direct Application

You may be able to apply directly for jobs if you've got experience and qualifications related to oil, gas, engineering or construction.

More Information

Career tips

Oil and gas workers work shifts, for example 10 to 12 hours a day over a 2-week period, followed by 2 weeks' leave. They might follow this shift pattern for several months at a time.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in the energy industry from My Energy Future.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • problem-solving skills
  • physical fitness and endurance
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a roustabout, you'll:

  • clean and look after the drilling deck and equipment
  • prepare drilling equipment for others to use
  • check pipes for leaks and report them
  • help technicians repair pumps, drills and leaks
  • operate lifting gear to unload and store supplies and equipment

Working environment

You could work on a rig.

Your working environment may be physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and at height.

You may need to wear protective clothing and safety clothing and use safety equipment.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Maintenance Engineer

  • Wage: £15,704 a year Annually
  • Location: Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire

Apprentice CAD Technician

  • Wage: £14,722.50 a year Annually
  • Location: Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Are you interested in becoming a roustabout?

Search for training courses near you.

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

You can call 0800 100 900 or use webchat to speak to an adviser.

We're open:

  • 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
  • 10am to 5pm Saturdays and bank holidays

We're closed on Sundays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.