Oil and Gas Drilling and Services Contractors and Supervisors

(NOC 8222)

in All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Supervisors in this group supervise and coordinate the activities of workers who drill for oil or gas, run service rigs, or provide oil and gas well services. They work for drilling and well service contracting companies and by petroleum producing companies. Oil field consultants may be self-employed.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 70 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

  • Estimate 415 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1430 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$30.65

Minimum

$53.44

Median

$72.03

Maximum

Annual Pay

$24,675

Minimum

$102,909

Median

$427,529

Maximum

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$18.00

Median

$30.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$4,009

Minimum

$23,520

Median

$87,170

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Supervisors in this group supervise and coordinate the activities of workers who drill for oil or gas, run service rigs, or provide oil and gas well services. They work for drilling and well service contracting companies and by petroleum producing companies. Oil field consultants may be self-employed.

Job duties

Supervisors in this group:

  • Supervise, coordinate, and schedule the activities of workers who drill for oil and gas, operate service rigs, or provide oil and gas well services.
  • Create ways to meet work schedules and coordinate work activities with other departments.
  • Request and buy materials and supplies.
  • Solve work problems and recommend ways to improve productivity and safety.
  • Train workers in job duties, safety procedures and company policies.
  • Recommend personnel actions like hiring and promotions.
  • Prepare production and other reports.
  • May set up machines and equipment.

Sample job titles

  • assistant offshore drilling rig superintendent
  • oil and gas contractor
  • oil and gas drilling foreperson
  • oil and natural gas well servicing foreperson
  • oil well services field supervisor
  • oilfield consultant
  • rig manager - oil and gas drilling
  • well services crew supervisor - oil and gas drilling

Skills

  • You need an aptitude for administrative work and project management. Leadership, supervisory and effective communication skills, both oral and written, is essential. You must be able to work alone and as part of a team. You must be observant, responsible, and able to enforce rules and regulations.

Job requirements

  • High school is required.
  • College or petroleum industry approved training courses is required.
  • A two-year college diploma in petroleum engineering technology may be required.
  • Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, well control, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) or other safety and technical subjects are required and are earned by completing short courses.

Other considerations

  • Supervisory personnel in this group usually have extensive in the job they are supervising. There is little mobility for supervisors from well services to well drilling.

By the numbers

Quick look

265

employed in 2016

98.1%

employed full-time

17.0%

self employed

5.7%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
94.3%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.3

median age

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

14,665

employed in 2016

78.0%

employed full-time

20.0%

self employed

15.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
84.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.6

median age

Where will I likely work?

38.9%

Halifax

$145,048 median annual income
22.2%

Cape Breton

$73,093 median annual income
18.5%

North Shore

N/A
11.1%

Southern

N/A
9.3%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

79.3%

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

13.8%

Professional, scientific and technical services

6.9%

Manufacturing

What is the age of Employment?

38.0%

35-44

23.0%

55-64

21.0%

45-54

11.0%

25-34

4.0%

65+

4.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

20.7%

45-54

19.8%

15-24

19.2%

55-64

16.2%

35-44

14.8%

25-34

Top levels of education

27.8%

College Diploma

$129,983 median annual income
20.4%

High school

$131,768 median annual income
16.7%

Trade Certification

$106,496 median annual income
14.8%

Bachelor

N/A
13.0%

Less than high school

N/A

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

35.7%

Less than high school

$23,463 median annual income
30.8%

High school

$19,301 median annual income
13.7%

College Diploma

$29,551 median annual income
13.4%

Trade Certification

$31,535 median annual income
4.4%

Bachelor

$17,956 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Petroleum Technology/Technician

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in the development and operation of oil and natural gas extraction and processing facilities. They include courses in principles of petroleum extraction and related geology, petroleum field mapping and site analysis, testing and sampling methods, instrument calibration, laboratory analysis, test equipment operation and maintenance, environment and safety monitoring procedures for oil/gas fields and facilities, facility inspection procedures, and report preparation.

Institutions providing this program

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables
Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change
Halifax, NS
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
Westmount, QC

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.