Service unit operators, oil and gas salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,940 | $18.72 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $58,160 | $27.96 |
| Mean (average) | $62,470 | $30.04 |
| 90th percentile | $97,560 | $46.90 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Service unit operators, oil and gas pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 27 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,490 | $39,990 | $74,550 | 170 | 0.29 |
| Alaska | $106,480 | $62,280 | $182,740 | 1,090 | 12.03 |
| Arkansas | $48,120 | $32,610 | $66,140 | 220 | 0.61 |
| California | $62,580 | $46,030 | $104,900 | 2,820 | 0.56 |
| Colorado | $60,290 | $46,490 | $109,290 | 2,930 | 3.68 |
| Florida | $62,050 | $45,790 | $72,520 | 200 | 0.07 |
| Illinois | $41,680 | $37,110 | $71,440 | 220 | 0.13 |
| Indiana | $56,980 | $34,230 | $62,330 | ||
| Kansas | $46,230 | $38,480 | $62,540 | 370 | 0.93 |
| Kentucky | $28,280 | $25,810 | $77,330 | 210 | 0.39 |
| Louisiana | $60,760 | $39,740 | $93,120 | 3,130 | 5.84 |
| Michigan | $52,000 | $39,350 | $76,930 | 230 | 0.19 |
| Mississippi | $49,610 | $35,480 | $97,590 | 250 | 0.77 |
| Missouri | $90,580 | $82,420 | $95,140 | 80 | 0.1 |
| Montana | $77,750 | $47,150 | $97,290 | 310 | 2.19 |
| Nebraska | $62,990 | $50,340 | $69,240 | 30 | 0.12 |
| New Mexico | $64,990 | $47,400 | $101,900 | 2,600 | 10.75 |
| New York | $45,750 | $36,880 | $60,660 | 100 | 0.04 |
| North Dakota | $60,810 | $37,600 | $88,410 | 3,000 | 25.16 |
| Ohio | $61,260 | $39,520 | $104,810 | 930 | 0.61 |
| Oklahoma | $56,680 | $34,490 | $97,950 | 2,980 | 6.3 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,780 | $39,310 | $73,600 | 1,520 | 0.9 |
| South Dakota | $49,920 | $46,060 | $57,010 | 40 | 0.32 |
| Texas | $49,820 | $37,560 | $79,770 | 16,820 | 4.31 |
| Utah | $56,290 | $39,070 | $80,550 | 1,060 | 2.2 |
| West Virginia | $56,250 | $37,680 | $81,930 | 580 | 2.97 |
| Wyoming | $62,560 | $47,090 | $93,110 | 820 | 10.53 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for service unit operators, oil and gas
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for service unit operators, oil and gas
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Mining Technology/Technician CIP 15.0901
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
- Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.
- Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.
- Prepare reports of services rendered, tools used, or time required, for billing purposes.
- Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.
- Confer with others to gather information regarding pipe or tool sizes or borehole conditions in wells.
- Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.
- Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Data logger software
- Inventory tracking software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Time and attendance software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Troubleshooting, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Maintenance.
Common job titles: Pulling Unit Operator, Reverse Unit Operator, Rig Operator, Service Operator, Service Rig Operator, Tool Pusher, Well Servicing Rig Operator, Wireline Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do service unit operators, oil and gas make?
The national median annual wage for service unit operators, oil and gas was $58,160 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,940 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $97,560. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do service unit operators, oil and gas need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is service unit operators, oil and gas a growing career?
BLS projects employment of service unit operators, oil and gas to change +1.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay service unit operators, oil and gas the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($106,480), Missouri ($90,580), Montana ($77,750). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.