Roustabout

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

Roustabouts help set up drilling equipment on oil and gas rigs. They also unload supplies, keep work areas clear and help with other deck operations.

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 apply to do an apprenticeship with an energy company to work on offshore rigs. For example:

• Engineering Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Maintenance and Operations Engineering Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Engineering Maintenance Technician 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

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Direct Application

You could apply directly for jobs if you have some experience and qualifications in the oil, gas, engineering or construction industries.

Your employer would put you through training at the start of your job, covering areas like platform duties and safety awareness.

More Information

Career tips

Oil and gas workers work shifts, commonly 12 hours a day split between days and nights.

They usually follow this shift pattern over a 2-week or 3-week period followed by 2 or 3 weeks’ leave.

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 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:

• complete basic offshore safety induction and emergency training
• be over 18 years of age
• have an offshore medical certificate

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 could:

• prepare equipment for drilling operations
• keep work areas clear of obstructions
• check tubes and pipes for leaks and report them
• help with cleanup operations after spills or leaks
• clean and paint work areas and equipment to prevent corrosion
• act as a fire watch, monitoring work like welding and pipe cutting
• use lifting gear to unload and move supplies and equipment
• keep accurate records of supplies delivered to the platform

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 and further training, you might become a:

• lead roustabout, helping to train and supervise new members of the team
• roughneck, assisting the drilling team with more specialised platform duties
• derrickhand, operating lifting gear to move equipment and supplies
• offshore drilling worker offshore-drilling-worker, controlling drilling operations
• maintenance technician, servicing and repairing equipment
• commercial diver, fixing underwater pipelines

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Maintenance Engineer (Electrical)

• Wage: £20,333 a year Annually
• Location: Banbury

2027 Manufacturing Apprentice - Templecombe

• Wage: £24,000 a year Annually
• Location: Throop Road, Templecombe

Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

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Jobs In the United Kingdom

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Not what you're looking for?

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