Field Service Technician (Oil & Gas)
Impact: Direct operational impact, ensuring critical infrastructure functions.
Installs, maintains, and repairs equipment used in oil and gas extraction and processing. Works on-site, often in remote locations, ensuring operational efficiency and safety of machinery.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- Often works independently but collaborates with teams on larger projects.
- Client facing
- Always
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- Frequent travel to remote oil and gas sites, sometimes for extended periods.
- Schedule flexibility
- Flexible
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- Irregular, often long hours including nights and weekends.
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $75,000
- Entry-level
- $55,000
- Senior
- $95,000
- Growth by 2033
- 5%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- High
- Typical student debt
- $15,000 - $30,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Mechanical repair
- Diagnostic testing
- Safety protocols
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: Very High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Postsecondary Non-degree Award
- 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
- Can advance to lead technician, supervisor, or move into specialized engineering roles with further education.
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- Medium
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.5/10
- Meaning
- 3.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 5/10
- Prestige
- 6/10
- Social perception
- High