Derrickhand
Impact: Direct operational impact on drilling efficiency and safety.
Derrickhands work on oil and gas drilling rigs, operating and maintaining the drilling machinery, particularly the derrick. They handle drilling pipe, assist in drilling operations, and ensure safety protocols are followed. This role is physically demanding and often involves working at heights in various weather conditions.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Never
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Extensive travel to remote drilling sites
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 72
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $65,000
- Entry-level
- $45,000
- Senior
- $85,000
- Growth by 2033
- -5%
- Demand
- Declining
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- 40%
- Typical student debt
- $0
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Drilling Equipment Operation
- Safety Procedures
- Mechanical Aptitude
- Heavy Equipment Operation
- Rigging
Soft skills
- Attention to Detail
- Problem-Solving
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: Very High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- High School Diploma or GED
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 5
- Years to senior
- 10
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Roughneck
- Derrickhand
- Driller
- Toolpusher
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 25%
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Declining
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.5/10
- Meaning
- 3.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 3/10
- Prestige
- 5.5/10
- Social perception
- Low