How Much Does a Roustabout Make? (2025)
With the U.S. BLS reporting a 6% change in Roustabouts’ projected employment for the years of 2023 to 2023, the job is seeing a positive employment trend. Salary.com’s Real-Time Job Posting Salary Data Report also reports 14.87% more job postings for the job title as well, which directly corresponds with the government’s data.
Salary.com has also reported that the average roustabout salary is $44,090 per year in the United States as of July 4, 2025. Read this salary guide to get a more comprehensive overview of Roustabouts, job descriptions, FAQs, and job expectations.
What Does a Roustabout Do?
A roustabout works in an oil rig and is most responsible for assembling or repairing oil rigs in an oil field using either hand or power tools. They’re also tasked with doing other specific tasks for the rig if needed.
Per Salary.com’s data, it’s completely acceptable for roustabouts to have no prior working experience before working in an oil rig. However, having some prior experience can help them negotiate better roustabout salary.
What is a Roustabout’s Salary Overview?
The average salary for roustabouts in the United States in 2025 is $44,090 per year or $21 per hour, as of July 4, 2025.
Based on Salary.com salary data, the average roustabout salary is between $38,359 to $54,215 per year, with most earning between $41,090 and $49,390. A roustabout’s salary per month is $3,674.
The salary for a roustabout is an average of $21 per hour, with hourly rates ranging from $18 to $26. The average weekly roustabout salary is $848, with weekly pay ranging from $738 to $1,043.
2025 Roustabout Average Salary: $44,090 per year ($21 per hour)
Meanwhile, the median roustabout salary is $37,790 per year, including salary and bonuses, and varies depending on the percentile.
| Percentile | Salary + Bonus |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $28,238 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,790 |
| 50th Percentile | $37,790 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,690 |
| 90th Percentile | $49,062 |
On the other hand, the overall roustabout salary in the US is $37,790, according to Salary.com report. The total compensation package includes benefits like healthcare ($8,352), time off ($4,651), and Social Security ($2,891), which make up 27.4% of the total compensation.
| Core Compensation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Median | % of Total | |
| Base Salary | $44,090 | 75.90% |
| Bonus | -$6,300 | -10.80% |
| Value of Benefits | ||
| Median | % of Total | |
| Social Security | $2,891 | 5.00% |
| 401K/403B | $1,587 | 2.70% |
| Disability | $756 | 1.30% |
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 14.40% |
| Pension | $2,041 | 3.50% |
| Time Off | $4,651 | 8.00% |
What Can Affect a Roustabout’s Salaries?
Various factors such as experience level, geographic location, education, and skills can significantly influence the salary of a Roustabout. Below is a breakdown of key salary components:
By Experience Level
Salary.com data shows that an entry-level roustabout salary – or those who have just joined their organization within the year – is $43,553. Those with more than 8 years of experience are considered experts, and the salary of a Roustabout at that level is $46,374.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Roustabout | $43,553 |
| Intermediate Level Roustabout | $44,090 |
| Senior Level Roustabout | $45,765 |
| Specialist Level Roustabout | $45,993 |
| Expert Level Roustabout | $46,374 |
By Geographic Location
Salary for Roustabouts in the United States vary by geographic location due to key factors like cost of living, the local economy, and industry presence.
Among the hot cities in the United States, San Francisco, California is among the highest paying cities, with average salary for roustabouts being $51,290, while Dallas, TX, and Miami, FL, reflect lower average salary for Roustabouts at $40,590 and $39,490 respectively.
| Cities | 25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $51,290 | $55,090 | $61,590 |
| Washington, District of Columbia | $45,490 | $48,890 | $54,690 |
| Miami, Florida | $39,490 | $42,390 | $47,390 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $42,490 | $45,590 | $50,990 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $45,890 | $49,190 | $55,090 |
| New York, New York | $47,590 | $51,090 | $57,190 |
| Dallas, Texas | $40,590 | $43,590 | $48,690 |
By Skills
Since being a Roustabout requires having a master’s degree or an MBA to start, most start at a similar level. However, The Real-Time Job Posting Salary Data Report has suggested that having maintenance inspection and equipment maintenance skills can boost the salary of a Roustabout by 7.71% and 7.09%, respectively.
| Skill | Demand | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Inspection | 3.62% | +7.71% |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.92% | +7.09% |
| Safety Policies and Procedures | 3.92% | +6.93% |
| National Electrical Code (NEC) Compliance | 3.52% | +6.78% |
| Machine Operation | 3.32% | +6.18% |
| Material Handling | 4.93% | +6.16% |
By Education
Since roustabouts do not usually require a degree, the vast majority of people within the role are high-school graduates. However, there are some roustabouts with a bachelor’s degree and those without any degree at all as well.
| Degree Level | % of Users with this Level of Education |
|---|---|
| High School | 74.60% |
| Bachelors | 8.00% |
| No Diploma | 8.00% |
How to Become a Roustabout?
To become a fully-fledged Roustabout, consider following these steps:
- Focus on physical fitness: Since the role of a roustabout needs to be as active as possible and fix problems within an oil rig, those who want to perform the role need to be as physically fit as possible to ensure that they can do the role properly.
- Gain relevant experience: Although most companies do not require their roustabout to have any experience, having prior experience and having skills like maintenance inspection and machine maintenance can help future roustabouts have an easier time looking for jobs. Most companies also offer on-the-job training for the role as well, essentially ensuring a seamless experience moving forward.
What are FAQs about Roustabout?
Here are some of the common questions about a Roustabout’s salary:
How much does a Roustabout earn on average?
Last updated on July 4, 2025, Salary.com reports that the salary for a Roustabout’s average is $44,090 per year or $21 per hour, which can translate to $3,674 monthly. The highest salary for a Roustabout is $46,374 for an expert level Roustabout.
What is the qualification for a Roustabout?
Roustabouts are not required to have any prior experience of working on an oil rig, but it’s still suggested for those looking for the job to be physically fit as the job requires heavy lifting for the most part.
What does a Roustabout do?
A Roustabout's main responsibility is to help in an oil rig and to help fix machinery in different locations within an oil rig. A roustabout responsibility may vary based on the area and on the oil rig, but they're mostly responsible for fixing gas leaks for the most part.
