Oil and Gas Jobs Key Terms

Decide which oil and gas job you want to work towards

By Shannon Tani

Oil and gas jobs can be a great way to earn your living, but it's important to know what to apply for. This industry has its own set of vocabulary words and you wouldn't want to apply for a roustabout position when you have the qualifications of a drilling engineer. Additionally, you must be aware of the various OSHA standards that are set in order to keep workers safe. Once you know these terms, you will be on your way to a great career.

Roustabout

Not just the title of an Elvis movie, the roustabout is a position on the oil rig. It's the least skilled position, involving manual labor, but can be a great place to start your career.
Try: Learn a bit more about the position of a roustabout, including salary at Oil Rig Jobs.

Roughnecks

Roughneck jobs involve difficult physical work. They are slightly more skilled than roustabouts and work directly with oil production. The physical tasks they perform include fixing pipes, cleaning up spills and other mechanical tasks.
Try: Learn more of the specifics of the roughneck position at Oil Jobs 411.

Tool pusher

The tool pusher is the supervisor in charge of all the manual laborers. All of the devices on the oil and gas field are called tools, hence the origin of this title. As the person in charge, the tool pusher pushes all of the tools in order to ensure they are operating properly.
Try: At CareerPlanner.com, you can read a job description for a tool pusher and look for jobs to apply for.

Derrickman

The derrickman is another position on an oil rig. The person that does this job works on a platform high from the ground, attached to the derrick. He or she may help to repair pipes or set up and take down a new rig. This is a well-respected position and may be second or third in command, depending on the size of the company.
Try: 1-Oil-Job.com describes the position of derrickman, including job duties.

Drilling engineer

The drilling engineer, sometimes called a driller, is responsible for an entire oil or gas operation. They may design the plan, estimate costs and oversee the process from start to finish. This is a highly skilled position, usually requiring an advanced degree.
Try: At Prospects, you can learn more about the position of a drilling engineer.

OSHA standards

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets the rules and standards for all industries that keep workers safe. They have a specific set of standards for those in the oil and gas industry.
Try: Learn the OSHA standards that apply specifically to the oil and gas industries.