Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
SOC 47-5071 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas is $46,340, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $47,730, and an estimated 43,830 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +17.6% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -0.2% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 2.5% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $46,340 | $46,340 | 43,830 |
| 2022 | $43,590 | $45,384 | 39,100 |
| 2021 | $38,920 | $43,765 | 34,520 |
| 2020 | $39,420 | $46,410 | 44,710 |
Nominal change
+17.6%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-0.2%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+2.5%
About average
Employment 2024
46,000
Projected 2034
47,100
Annual Openings
4,300
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Roustabouts, Oil and Gas earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $46,340. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $81,860 | +76.7% | 50 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $60,510 | +30.6% | 310 |
| Alaska | $60,490 | +30.5% | 390 |
| California | $58,550 | +26.3% | 760 |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $58,240 | +25.7% | 2,430 |
| North Dakota | $58,210 | +25.6% | 2,590 |
| East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $56,990 | +23% | 50 |
| Montana | $56,770 | +22.5% | 110 |
| Ohio | $54,250 | +17.1% | 560 |
| Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $51,410 | +10.9% | 370 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$35,150
25th Pct
$38,410
Median
$46,340
75th Pct
$53,590
90th Pct
$61,350
Related Occupations in Construction & Extraction
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.