Field Operator
Impact: Operational efficiency, Safety, Resource extraction
Operate and maintain a variety of oil, gas, or mining machines and equipment on designated sites, ensuring safe and efficient operations. Field Operators monitor process parameters, perform routine checks, and troubleshoot technical issues to ensure continuous production and compliance with safety regulations.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Rarely
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Frequent local travel between sites
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-60 hours per week, often shift-based
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $75,000
- Entry-level
- $50,000 - $65,000
- Senior
- $90,000 - $110,000
- Growth by 2033
- 8% (faster than average)
- Demand
- Growing
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- High
- Typical student debt
- $10,000 - $30,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Equipment Operation
- Mechanical Maintenance
- Process Monitoring
- Safety Protocols
- Data Recording
Soft skills
- Attention to Detail
- Troubleshooting
- Problem-Solving
- Communication
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- High school diploma or equivalent; some college or technical training preferred
- Licensing
- Yes
- 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
- Lead Operator, Supervisor, Operations Manager
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 15% to low risk due to relationship and judgment components
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Growing
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.2/10
- Meaning
- 3/10
- Work-life balance
- 5/10
- Prestige
- 5.5/10
- Social perception
- Low