Are you looking to make a good salary while having a very attractive and interesting work schedule? Then you might want to consider looking into offshore oil rig jobs.

Right now, all across the world, offshore oil and gas drilling rigs are producing millions of barrels of oil every day. These drilling rigs are installed in every kind of water imaginable. From swamps to deepwater operations hundreds of miles offshore, oil platforms work around the clock to help meet our global energy demands.

Even with a rise in alternative fuel sources, traditional oil and natural gas demands are not going down. Every day the world uses more energy. That is why we think oil rig jobs are a good and stable employment opportunity.

Oil rig jobs: a wealth of job opportunities

One of the really interesting things about offshore oil rig jobs is the wide variety of people needed. This is unlike a traditional oil well. On these, everyone you see working is not very far removed from extracting oil and gas.

To work in a traditional oil field you probably need to know a lot about drilling techniques and processes. In most cases you’re not going to worry about transportation, food, medical care, or gathering supplies.

But once you go offshore this is no longer the case. When you’re 200 miles away from the nearest land, worrying about where your next meal is coming from is pretty important. And if there should be an accident you can’t simply drive down the road to a hospital.

That’s why there are many offshore oil rig jobs that deal mostly with support functions. And of course, there’s always a demand for knowledgeable drillers and engineers to do oil rig work. That’s a given.

So when we say that there are many different types of job opportunities on an oil rig, we mean it. Everyone is needed like:

• Medics
• Roughnecks
• Crane operators
• Welders
• Electricians
• Cooks
• Managers
• Painters
• Riggers
• Mechanics
• Engineers
• Roustabouts
• Pumpmen
• Toolpushers
• Drillers

An offshore drilling rig is like a miniature self contained city. Everyone on board has an important role. What would you like to do?

Salary Outlook for Oil Rig Jobs

Let’s say you two oilfield workers who basically do the same job and have the same experience. The only difference is one of them works on land while the other one works offshore. Who do you think will make more money?

The fact is the offshore worker will make probably 30% more than his land based friend.

There are a number of reasons for this. The biggest being that working offshore is more difficult. You can’t just drive home or to a hotel at night, or go out partying, or see your family when you get off your shift. No, instead you will be on an oil rig for at least seven days at a time. For some people it is very hard and that is why the industry has a hard time finding qualified workers to fill all of the open oil rig jobs out there.

Getting hired with no experience

Lots of people start out with just a dream to work offshore. Sure, they might have some trade experience and welding or rigging, or have even been a roughneck before. The problem comes in when they had never worked on an oil rig before. Getting the necessary offshore experience always seems to be the “catch” when looking for entry level offshore jobs.

That’s why we recommend taking any possible job that you can find offshore – even if it seems menial or just flat out sucks. All you’ll be doing is proving to future employers that you have what it takes to actually work offshore.

But even if you’re just a hard worker who has never worked in oil patch or drilling rig before, it’s still possible there are offshore employment opportunities for you. You’ll just need to really look around and take any job so you can work your way up.

Taking the next step

Right now, sign up for our free offshore oil rig jobs database and newsletter. It is totally free and is updated with all the newest job openings. Plus you will receive tips in your e-mail to help you land an oil rig job.

There are many different offshore jobs in Louisiana. While the majority of Fortune 500 energy company headquarters are in Texas, there are probably more job opportunities for actual offshore oil rig work in Louisiana.

One of the things that Louisiana has going for it is that there are several hubs you can look at for employment. This has been a popular way to get started in the past. While of course now the economy has put a lot of people out of work, it is still possible to get hired in Louisiana if you keep looking.

One of the places you can go to in Louisiana is Port Fourchon. Port Fourchon has long been the starting point of many entry level offshore jobs in Lousiana because there is a large offshore service and contracting industry there.

Similar cities for offshore jobs in Louisiana include New Iberia and Venice. These are both near the coast and have similar, although smaller, amounts of offshore companies.

Along the same lines, another fairly significant area for offshore jobs in Louisiana is Lafayette. Several energy companies have a regional headquarter in Lafayette. Like other areas of the country Lafayette has taken an economic beating, but there are still very large offshore drilling companies here. For those people in the area finding offshore jobs in Lafayette can be done in person.

Another significant city for offshore employment is of course New Orleans. New Orleans is very close to at least 5000 different oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico and has several giant companies headquartered here.

While there are many more office type jobs at these large companies, and you can still find related offshore jobs in New Orleans and some smaller companies. Look for these various drilling, casing, or workover rig companies in the area.

Of course your success in your job hunt is going to depend a lot on external factors like the economy and how the company is doing.

I wish this were the way it was, but for right now there are many qualified applicants who are looking for work. This can make it very hard to get your foot in the door at first right now. So if you get any job opportunities be sure to take them even if it’s not exactly what you wanted at first.

Of course your financial situation will play a large part in this, but whenever you do don’t quit. Keep at it and stay persistent.

We’ve written more about the various kinds of entry level offshore jobs you’ll run across in your job hunt. If you’re fortunate enough to already have some industry experience, you will find your job search much easier in Louisiana.

One thing to consider is if you have any skills that can transfer to an offshore employment benefit. For example, if you’ve been a welder or mechanic you could try getting hired on as one of those jobs instead of working on the drilling crew.

Another thing to do is to sign up for our job database to stay alert for any new offshore jobs in Louisiana that pop up.

When you are ready to get hired as oil rig you’re going to need one of two things: previous experience, or the best damn work ethic out there.

That’s why I’ve seen many guys get started in this industry with roustabout jobs. If you have no previous experience you have to be willing to start at the very bottom of the pyramid. Being a roustabout is where you would be then.

On an oil rig a roustabout provides the common, entry level labor. The trick is you can very well make $40 to $50 grand a year – and that’s just working six months out of the year. So it’s no wonder many people are looking for roustabout jobs on oil rigs.

Do roustabout jobs require any previous experience?

Not really. The drillers and companies know the roustabouts simply don’t have any previous experience and knowledge about how oil drilling goes. That’s fine.

So long as you’re capable of hard work, can take orders, and don’t complain you’ll do fine. Anything that is specific to an oil rig will be taught to you.

Have you ever worked in the construction industry? That would be good plus actually. That shows you are good with your hands, can use tools, and can work with a boss. If you have any experience welding that would be of real plus as well.

The number one thing you need to get hired for roustabout jobs is just simply having the balls to do the hard work. Previous experience offshore is not required.

What will I be doing?

Roustabouts will do just about any physical labor. Sometimes you’ll have to unload crates all day long. Other times will be asked to move around supplies for other people. Maybe you might have to clean up as well.

It really depends though on what the oil rig is doing (drilling, production, etc).

But just like everyone else an oil rig you will be putting in 12 hour days for at least seven days in a row. It can be very tough times. But if you’re really serious about working in this industry, and all you can offer is your labor and now, being a roustabout is the perfect entry level offshore job.

If roustabout jobs are the bottom, what’s better?

The next logical step up from being a roustabout is to get promoted to roughneck. You’ll get a better pay, and you get to work more with the actual drill tools and tongs. Plus if you’re lucky you will get to tell the new roustabouts what to do.

So how do I get started?

Are you ready to make more than the average Joe, get six months off each year, and an amazing benefits package from your company? Then alright – we can help you find roustabout jobs.

Sign up for our free offshore jobs database. It has the newest roustabout job openings, plus we will send you a free newsletter crammed full of tips about getting hired for your first job.

Oil and gas jobs are going to be an important employment opportunity for the foreseeable future.

While many sources of alternative energy such as solar, wind, and nuclear are growing rapidly – the bulk of worldwide energy is coming from hydrocarbons like oil and natural gas. And as worldwide energy demands are always increasing you can bet that oil and gas are here to stay.

Future Outlook For Oil and Gas Jobs Is Good

That’s why now is a perfect time to start looking for oil and gas jobs all across the world. With the United States the sitting on the giant reserves, and the Middle East as well, many people often forget about the massive amounts of oil and gas that are stored underneath the ocean.

Offshore oil and gas jobs play an important role in getting this valuable energy resource to market.

While we frequently talk about some of the offshore jobs that directly deal with the extraction and production of oil, there are many more different types of jobs possible. After all, in this multibillion dollar industry, people of all skills are needed. So no matter if you’re good with your hands or have studied Petroleum Engineering at a university for four years, there’s definitely a job opening for you.

Some of the different jobs are:

Engineer – engineers are responsible for constructing some of the large pipelines, drilling operations, ships and other important machinery used in industry. They might also know a lot about extracting oil from the ground and come up with some new technologies to do this. Engineers graduate from a university with a degree.

Drillers – drillers are basically the person in charge of operating the actual drilling rig. Of course, on an offshore oil platform, there are many more people are working too. But the driller is in charge of the people on the drill floor and is actually getting the hole created.

Marine – because oil platforms can sometimes be hundreds of miles in the ocean, there needs to be a full supply chain network to get people, tools, and supplies to them. This is where marine offshore jobs come into play. They play a vital role in linking offshore work to onshore resources.

Rig support – this area covers everyone who helped keep an offshore oil rig running smoothly. With downtime being extremely expensive, it is in everyone’s best interest to keep the platform operate safely and efficiently. Everyone from welders to painters are necessary for this task.

Take The Next Step: Apply For Energy, Oil And Gas Jobs Today

So as you can see, regardless of any previous experience or knowledge that you may or may not have, there are definitely offshore oil and gas jobs for you.

Are you ready to get started? Then go ahead and sign up for our offshore oil and gas jobs database. It is totally free for you and is full of the newest jobs out there. Plus, if we have the industry’s best newsletter about finding employment.

We’re not going to pull any punches here. Roughneck jobs are going to be a lot of hard work. But when you are looking to get a job working on an oil drilling crew, there’s no better place to start.

Sure you can always start out as even a roustabout. But nowadays even people who have never stepped foot on a drilling floor can learn the skills to start out right as a roughneck.

Start working offshore or work on land first?

Working offshore can be a little different than working on land. The actual job you will do as a roughneck is the same though. You’ll be in charge of grabbing the pipes, using the tongs, and making or breaking the connections.

The big difference is that when you are working as an offshore roustabout you’re having to do it all the oil platform – no going home or to the hotel at night. Because it is a little different – but is it ever exciting – finding offshore roughneck jobs when you are just starting out totally green is a little harder than working onshore.

That’s why of all the entry level offshore jobs that people are looking for, roughneck is definitely at the top.

Duties and Requirements for Offshore Roughneck Jobs

A lot of being a roughneck is more about character than it is knowledge when you’re starting out. In fact there are many schools that can teach you how to be a roughneck. But no one is going to teach you how to be a good worker unless you want to be.

You need to be dependable, show up for work, honest, able to take orders, and being as strong as an ox sure won’t hurt!

Once you’re hired as a roughneck will be working on the dril floor. You’ll take orders from the driller about what to do. You’ll need to help set up and tear down things, keep the rig as clean as possible, and primarily help trip the pipe in and out of the hole.

Roughneck job salary

One of the real nice things about offshore roughnecks is that they make more than a land based roughneck. Of course it’s hard work out on an oil platform, but the money is good for all offshore jobs. Clearing $50,000 a year is definitely possible. What’s even better is you will only work six months out of the year. That’s a good enough reason right there to get started.

Companies With The Most Roughneck Jobs

The easiest way to get started as a roughneck is to get hired at one of the offshore drilling and production contract companies. These are the companies that actually do the day to day drilling operations for a company like Exxon.

Some of these you might’ve heard of like Transocean or Diamond. Others are much smaller, and can be found by looking in some of the key areas like Louisiana or Houston.

Getting started as an offshore roughneck

The best advice we can give you is this: sign up for our free offshore jobs database. It is full of the latest roughneck job openings, and we also have a free newsletter about how to get hired offshore.

Offshore drilling jobs are an excellent way for you to apply your existing oil field experience in the most exciting part of this industry.

Everyday we’re finding out about new offshore oil and gas discoveries all around the world. As more and more oil rigs go into service, the demand for skilled workers to safely extract the oil and gas is going to go up as well. And with salaries already being amazing in this field we are predicting across the board pay increases in the future. So now’s the time to get started.

For the most part, offshore drilling jobs are the same as you would find on a regular land drilling operation. That’s why many people start looking at some of the big offshore drilling companies for employment. In fact, if you’re working on the drill floor you might as well being out on a West Texas rig because the job is basically the same.

Of course there are some differences between onshore and offshore oil jobs. The biggest difference is that when you work offshore, you will be doing a 12 hour workday for a minimum of seven days solid. If that sounds tough you’re right.

Other people, despite having many years of land based drilling experience, simply don’t want to work on an oil rig. It’s a desolate place and you don’t get to go home at night. But then again, when you do return home you will be there for at least one week. It is a tradeoff in only you know for certain if you will be able to do it.

The career ladder for offshore drilling jobs is also the same as you’re probably used to. At the bottom you have roughnecks and roustabouts. A little higher up you will still have a derrickman and possibly his assistant. Then of course, you have a driller and frequently an assistant driller. And to top it all off, who can forget the toolpusher.

Yes the entire familiar drilling crew that you’ve come to love and know is there on an oil rig too.

And just like you can get started drilling on land without any experience, you can find offshore drilling jobs that don’t need much in the way of training. Of course there are more people competing for the entry level offshore jobs but if you have any existing it drilling experience you will be a more attractive job candidate.

When you’re ready to make more money then you’ve been pulling in before and have the adventure of a lifetime offshore, we will help you out. Sign up now for our free job database and free drilling jobs newsletter.

Offshore catering jobs let you do what you love – cooking for others – and make great money while you do it. Cooking and preparing all the food for hungry workers on an offshore oil platform is a great business. There are many openings for a wide variety of catering jobs.

Usually an outsourced catering company is hired to take care of all the food service and housekeeping on the rig. They will be responsible for ensuring all the meals and snacks on board are taking care of. Some companies also handle all the housekeeping, so there are many opportunities there too.

Offshore catering jobs like cooks, assistant cooks, bakers, and galley hands are possible.

What kind of experience is needed?

Do you have any experience working some of these jobs before? If so, and you have good restaurant or catering experience, that make it much easier for you to get hired into these offshore cooking jobs. If you’ve never worked offshore before the lifestyle change can be a little tough, but you can probably get used to it.

A lot of the different job openings on each rig are going to be determined by the size of the rig itself. Smaller rigs simply don’t need as big a crew, while some of the newer larger oil platforms employed quite a few people to keep it clean and the workers well fed.

The benefits of offshore catering

Another thing that a lot of people like is that the offshore pay is much better than you would find on land. Plus, when you factor in the fact that you only work about half of the year, cooking offshore is a great deal.

And for those people looking to expand into a job other than cooking – starting out as an offshore cook is a great way to get your foot in the door into the oil industry. You’ll make lots of good industry contacts and people will learn that you are a reliable and dependable worker.

The types of offshore catering jobs

Again, depending on who hires you and where you’re posted, there are several different kinds of offshore catering jobs. These include:

Offshore Chef Jobs
Offshore Cook Jobs
Offshore Baker Jobs
Offshore Steward Jobs
Offshore Galley Hand Jobs
Offshore Housekeeping Jobs

Taking the next step

Go ahead and sign up now for our job database. It is free to access is filled with the latest catering, cook, steward, and housekeeping jobs and oil rigs.

Offshore welding jobs are a good way to use your welding skills to make more money than you probably would on land. Many welders who have never worked or lived near offshore oil drilling can be a little surprised by this. But the fact is, working offshore can provide stable employment and is very exciting.

On an oil rig a welder’s skill is always in demand. After all, the entire platform is made of metal. Any thing that is to be added to the rig needs to be welded on. In addition, because of the harsh environment, the metal is always needing to be repaired. And you’ll be asked to build new structures, so your fabrication skills will come into play as well.

When you work offshore as a welder your boss will most likely be a maintenance supervisor on the rig. Your day to day activities will come from him. Other crews will be working on the rig as well, but they will be doing their own thing like drilling for oil or dealing with the marine side of things.

On larger oil platforms there may be some maintenance roustabouts around as well. These are unskilled laborers who may be there to help you out, but don’t count on it.

What’s the pay like for offshore welding jobs?

The money you’ll make depends on if you are paid per day paid per project, as well as your experience and certifications. We’re seeing more frequently that welders are hired on just for projects but paid a flat day rate.

With the down economy in the U.S. It has become more competitive for welders offshore. Anything you can do to make yourself a more attractive job candidate the better.

This may mean you need to go ahead and get some offshore safety certifications even if you don’t have the job yet.

And of course, the more tickets you have the better. Many times an experience welder can be passed over for a job just because they didn’t have the right ticket for what a company needed. So if you are serious about working offshore as a welder, make sure all your certifications are up to date.

If you’re just getting started in the offshore industry, you will quickly learn many job openings require you to have previous offshore experience. This is just another problem that can be overcome. One way to take care of this is to take on a lower level job like being a maintenance roustabout.

It’s not going to be good at first but it will get your foot in the door.

Ready to get started as an offshore welder? Sign up for our job database and newsletter – it is totally free and contains everything you need to know about landing your first offshore welding job.

Ready to get started in one of the most exciting industries? Entry level offshore jobs can be your way to get a foot in the door in the lucrative offshore oil and gas business.

Every day energy companies like Shell, BP, and Exxon spend millions of dollars to extract oil and gas from underwater oil wells all around the world. And with oil prices always climbing, in our lifetime this is not going to stop.

Combine this the fact that if you are willing to work hard, be dependable, and do anything to get started you will find that entry level offshore jobs can change your life. Of course getting hired for your first offshore job is the hard part, but just stick with and your break will come.

Getting Started

In North America most of the offshore drilling is done in the Gulf of Mexico. If you live in a state along the Gulf you’re probably already familiar with the hot spots of employment in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Around the rest of the world drilling is done all over. In Europe the North Sea off of Great Britain is a major hub of natural gas and oil exploration.

One way to get hired is to show up at some of the major ports and look for entry level offshore jobs there. This is pretty common in Southern Louisiana around Port Fourchon. If you are literally willing to take on any kind of employment just to get your foot in the door you can probably find someone willing to give you a chance. It might not be glamorous, but it will pay very well and give you some industry experience.

When you’re just starting out, it can be hard to get hired for entry level offshore jobs at first because you will not have any previous offshore experience. That’s why we always stress do not be picky about your first job and look for any entry level positions around the Gulf.

Some guys started out not even working offshore, but still in with a company that serviced rigs. Then when they had an offshore opening they got a break. It’s funny how luck sometimes plays out like that.

Jop Openings

One of the most common types of entry level offshore jobs that people are looking for is working on an oil drilling crew. The fact is that many of the energy giants like Shell very rarely hire the actual labor to work on an oil rig.

Instead, they will contract with some of the major offshore drilling companies like Transocean or Diamond to do the actual work. These are the companies you want to hit up for employment.

If you have no previous experience at all will oil, one of your best bets is to get hired as a roustabout. It’s going to be very tough work but you’ll be able to prove yourself and gain experience.

If you’ve already worked on an onshore oil rig before, you have a leg up when it comes to working offshore. Except for some details, offshore drilling is basically the same as onshore drilling so your skills will transfer for offshore drilling.

Let’s say that you worked as a roughneck previously. You could move to an offshore roughneck position if you find some entry level offshore job openings at a drilling contractor or workover contractor.

There are other types of skills and trades that are needed on an oil rig as well. Crane operators and welders are always in demand, and this can be a good way to transfer your skills offshore.

Take The Next Step

When you’re ready to get started and get your foot in the door, go ahead and register for our offshore jobs database andnewsletter.

Offshore drilling rigs are the “office” for thousands of people every day who work in this exciting industry. From a senior driller to crane operators, from medics to electricians, there are several different kinds of drilling rig jobs possible.

How you decide to get started here really depends on what skills and experience you bring to the table.

Many different opportunities

For example if you if party have some experience working in an oilfield, that will look very good on your resume. It is very common for a guy to learn the ropes working on land with a drilling crew and then take the same jobs offshore.

So yes, any existing industry experience you have is directly transferable when you go to apply. Except for a few differences, drilling on land and offshore is pretty much the same.

And there’s still room for you in this industry even if you have never worked an oil field before.

Skilled and certified tradesmen are needed every day to keep all the drilling rigs operating. Countless welders, electricians, riggers, and seamen work around the clock to keep the platforms supplied and running safely.

So if you have experience any of those fields, working on a drilling rig could be as simple as getting the right certifications and finding an offshore contractor.

Future outlook for drilling rig jobs

The fact is there’s a shortage of qualified workers to fill all the available drilling rig jobs both in North America and around the world. For example just this year, energy giant BP has forecasted they will be hiring 6000 new workers.

Many other companies have announced expansion in their offshore drilling worldwide and this is going to create even more drilling rig jobs. This is even in despite of the recent relative slowdown in some North American offshore drilling activities.

Other areas of employment besides drilling rig jobs

Another thing you might consider in your search for offshore employment is to look for a job in some of the other parts of the offshore oil and gas sector.

One area of big growth (especially now as more oil plays are made in deeper water) are on the floating production and storage vessels. FPSO jobs allow you to to use the same skills as you would on a drilling rig but in a slightly different environment.

The difference is very minor, but it’s another area of opportunity for you. We think the FPSO area is going to be huge in the future.

Taking the next step

We have a totally free database of job listings as well as a free newsletter about getting hired on drilling rigs. Go ahead and sign up for today and in no time at all you can be working offshore.