Posted on 01/23/2015 9:48:47 AM PST by thackney
Rothman states in the comment section of the post his reasoning behind writing the post saying, “ I actually wrote this post because I was recently laid off from my roughnecking job (they stacked half of our rigs) and I am trying to gain attention among industry professionals like yourselves.”
Good Luck Alec on the job search,hope the article/blog thing works out for ya
They get days off? WTH? I can remember going for about 6 months at a time(a lot of times actually) working 7/12 with no days off. Death included, unless you brought a not from the mortuary. :>}
Like an offshore or North Slope assignment I guess.
Glad I went to college.
He probably brings home more than the average college grad, at least he did before being laid off.
A roughneck should expect to earn approximately $60,000 a year starting salary. This salary is just an average as some may make less and certainly many make more. The more experience you have, the more you can earn. In addition, those roughnecks who are stationed at remote rigs will earn higher pay. There are also often bonuses and salary increases each year when a worker meets expectations and performs up to standards while remaining safe.
http://www.jobmonkeyjobs.com/cm/oil_jobs/rig_roughnecks
Note that pay for this type of work varies a lot on location and demand.
Yes, he does, just like my brother who dropped out of HS and works in the oil fields. My brother also busts his chops for little more than I make, and he was working 2 on, 1 off in North Dakota in the sub zero temps and snow and stuff. I sit in a nice temp controlled office, pushing virtual pencils from 8-5.
When my Son was a tech, tearing down oil tools in the shop( His first Post-Navy job) He’d bring home the grottiest coveralls I’d ever seen.
He’s now a MWD Engr and seldom gets even a couple days off between rigs. Then before Thanksgiving he got off 3 weeks, not knowing if every day He’d get the call. And of course late Thanksgiving eve he got the call. Later, since I was going his direction to go hunting, I drove out and delivered him his Thanksgiving dinner.
During the last crash, 1983 I went back to school and became a pharmacist. Sold the house, sold the airplane and used all my savings but it was worth it. I still miss the oilfield.
It is not for everyone. I split my time between the office and jobs sites as an engineer. For me that is best. As long as the equipment is running, I often get to pick which days I am in or out.
70°, low humidity, yeah I got some equipment in the field I need to check on.
35° and raining, I really got to get those calculations done and I’ve got an RFQ that needs sent out...
Well I worked as a roustabout for 2 summers and got a taste of what it is like to work 36 hrs, sleep 9 hrs then work 36 hrs more. Great incentive to finish college!
I met a kid back in the 70s who was working as a roughneck in Oman, making 4 times as much money as I was. After he described his typical tour of duty, I was no longer envious. I think itwas 3 weeks on, then a month off, but “home” was a 2-day commute at his expense.
and I bet you did not start at that pace either.
When I worked next door in glorious Yemen, the commute was the same, on our time, but the company paid for an equivalent air fair to Europe.
But I was working 8 weeks on, 2 weeks off. 7/12 when on, we got paid 40h hr/wk when off.
No, it has taken a couple decades to get to this point. And the pay is “a bit” better than then as well.
This guy can go right to work on the pulling units.
Its different but in some ways still the same.
I worked as a medic on the North Slope for 26 years. Started 7 on/7 off (which was really 8/6 due to travel), then went to 10/11/11/10 on a 3 week rotation, and ended up at 14/14. I liked the 10/11 schedule the best.
When working 14/14 I learned that I was productive for 10 days and then developed the 1000 yard stare. It took 2-3 days after I got home before I was pleasant to be around.
You don’t realize how stressful these schedules are until you quit. I’ve been offered similar jobs since and turned them down. Sleeping in your own bed every night is worth a lot.
later
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