Roustabouts

Little or no formal training or experience is required to work as a roustabout, but those with prior work experience will increase their chances of landing a job, getting promoted, and possibly earning higher pay.

Roustabouts must be physically fit, with good coordination, agility, and eyesight. They must enjoy working out of doors, be willing to work in extreme weather, and often are required to work more than 40 hours a week. In addition, employers may require that job applicants pass a physical examination and a screening test for drug use before hiring them. Applicants might also have to take aptitude tests to determine their mechanical ability.

Those who become roustabouts should be ready to pitch in with extra work when the situation requires it. They should work well both on their own and as part of a crew. Those on offshore platforms must be able to get along with the same people for extended periods of time.

Roustabouts need to be comfortable with an unpredictable field; at times they do not have steady work, and at other times they work several weeks straight with only a few days off. Many roustabouts have a taste for challenge, travel, and adventure rather than a settled home life. Others look at the job as a short-term way to gain experience, earn money for college or some other specific expense, or to prepare for a better paying job in the energy industry.