Skilled Trades
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. Includes fishing-tool technicians.
Median salary
$57,980
Typical range
$40k – $94k
Job outlook
See national outlook
AI exposure
Plan a path to Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Entry / Junior
$40,010
~2 yrs to advance
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Established
$57,980
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Senior
$75,900
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.