Oil and Gas Drilling, Servicing and Related Labourers

(NOC 8615)

in All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Labourers in this group carry out a variety of general labouring duties and use equipment to help drill and service oil and gas wells. This group also includes labourers who help in geophysical prospecting for oil and gas. They work for drilling and well servicing contractors and by petroleum producing companies.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

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

$18.25

Minimum

$29.00

Median

$37.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$11,051

Minimum

$39,196

Median

$98,211

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

Labourers in this group carry out a variety of general labouring duties and use equipment to help drill and service oil and gas wells. This group also includes labourers who help in geophysical prospecting for oil and gas. They work for drilling and well servicing contractors and by petroleum producing companies.

Job duties

Labourers in this group:

  • Manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem at the rig floor during drilling and during the removal and replacement of strings of pipe or drill stem and drill bit.
  • Maintain drilling equipment on the drill floor.
  • Handle, sort and move drill tools, pipe, cement, and other materials.
  • Clean up rig areas.
  • Help set up, take down and transport drilling and service rigs and service equipment.
  • May drive trucks to transport materials and well service equipment.

Sample job titles

  • floorhand - oil and gas drilling
  • leasehand - oil and gas drilling
  • oil field labourer
  • roughneck
  • seismic survey helper
  • service rig helper - oil field services
  • shakerhand - oil and gas drilling
  • well treatment helper - oil field services

Skills

  • You should have good health, physical stamina, and strength. Agility, coordination, and mechanical aptitude would be helpful. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

  • High school may be required.
  • Introductory college or petroleum industry-approved training courses may be required.
  • Certificates in hydrogen sulphide awareness, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) or transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) may be required.

Other considerations

  • Most workers in these jobs work for part of the year and typically earn less than half the yearly income of employees who work for the whole year. The physical demands of this work may make it difficult for people to stay in these jobs for a long time. Progression to more senior operating positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

360

employed in 2016

94.5%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

13.7%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
86.3%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
43.5

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?

71.2%

Cape Breton

$32,599 median annual income
9.6%

Halifax

$39,350 median annual income
8.2%

Southern

N/A
8.2%

North Shore

N/A
2.7%

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

67.6%

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

8.1%

Manufacturing

8.1%

Construction

5.4%

Transportation and warehousing

5.4%

Professional, scientific and technical services

What is the age of Employment?

23.0%

25-34

22.0%

55-64

20.0%

45-54

18.0%

35-44

15.0%

15-24

3.0%

65+

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

43.1%

High school

$42,151 median annual income
18.1%

College Diploma

$40,639 median annual income
18.1%

Trade Certification

$30,970 median annual income
15.3%

Less than high school

$39,247 median annual income
4.2%

Bachelor

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 Environment and Climate Change
Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Department of Resources and Renewables
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.