Is Oil & Gas Production a Good Career Path? : Opportunities Explained

Although the world is changing a lot year by year and generation by generation, one thing is still abundantly clear: we rely on fossil fuels.

Things are constantly on the move in our world. From passengers traveling from one part of the globe to the other, to products making their way from factories to stores, to just about every other aspect of your life, travel and transportation is mandatory, truly essential. And that means that fossil fuels are too.

Without oil and gas, all of Earth would come to a complete standstill. That is the biggest reason why the industry that revolves around it is so important.

And because it has such importance in the modern world, even with the invention and growth of electric vehicles, entering a job in the oil and gas field is not only smart, it’s downright brilliant. There are a number of reasons beyond job security that make oil and gas careers beneficial to you, your family, your lifestyle, and your future.

When asked if oil and gas production jobs are a smart career path for you, the answer is a resounding, unquestionable yes, without a doubt.

But why? What is it about the oil and gas field that will provide you with so many opportunities and a future you will be happy with?

What Are Oil And Gas Jobs?

Jobs in the oil and gas field are far more than just pumping gas or driving oil tankers from one station to another. There are countless jobs associated with the industry, and many of them are very high paying and exciting, rewarding, and also hiring often.

Here are just a few of the positions you should look into when you want to be an oil and field professional.

Roustabout

The position of roustabout does a lot of different things, and most of the tasks are manual and somewhat difficult too. You will do jobs such as cleaning, maintaining equipment, taking care of supplies, moving things, and assisting your coworkers too.

In many ways, you are the lowest person on the totem pole when you are a roustabout, but you should not be worried about that. That is because many people who have climbed up the corporate ladder in the oil and gas field have started in this position and then worked their way up.

So it’s now some lowly job that no one wants to do. Instead, it’s a great start to a long and illustrious career.

Geologist

There are few jobs in the oil and gas industry that are more crucial than a geologist. You might not think so based solely on the title, but it’s a super important position. That is because oil and gas cannot be found, refined, and pulled from the earth without a geologist.

A geologist’s main task is to find parts of the world that are full of minerals and, yes, oil. With their help, oil companies will be able to plot their next moves and decide where they are going to drill next.

A geologist will have days filled with work in the field, office work, and also a lot of presentations and report writing, advising the company of what they should do and the choices they should make when it comes to new oil fields and drill sites.

Of course, if you want to be a geologist for an oil and gas company, you will need a degree in geology. But you should be aware that the pay is quite friendly and enticing. You could make more than $80,000 a year if you are a geologist for an oil and gas firm.

The best part about being an oil and gas geologist is that you can almost always find a high-paying job somewhere. Companies all over the world are nearly always in search of a new geologist. You will likely have great job security if you pursue this path.

Drill Operator

Officially titled “rotary drill operator,” this is another essential job that keeps the entire industry moving.

But it sure is a messy one too.

They are often called “roughnecks,” and they are the people who work the jobs at the most basic, essential level. A drill operator does exactly that: they operate the heavy-duty tools and equipment that drills for oil and gas wells.

One of the best things about being a drill operator is that you can do it at any site, any location, or any company. Once you are trained in this job, you will have serious job security, and you can move from company to company, earning a decent wage.

But the job is appealing for more than the pay. You will also be able to see the world and experience exciting things and make close friends with the people you work with. You should be aware that you would have a decent amount of time away from family, especially if you are working at an oil rig in the ocean.

Why Work In The Oil & Gas Field?

There is no doubt that working in a job related to oil and gas has a lot of downsides.

Firstly, you will work long hours, although you will be paid handsomely for your time. But that means you will spend a lot of days away from your friends and family.

Oil and gas jobs are always needed, which means that oil and gas jobs never really stop. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, you may have to sacrifice some of them for your career.

You will also be working in a field that doesn’t have the best reputation. Now more than ever, millions of people are demanding that society move away from reliance on oil and gas as a way to take better care of the planet.

That is understandable, and many oil and gas companies are doing their part to tend to nature and make sure they are as green as possible. So you will have to come to terms with the fact that you might need to defend your position and the industry you work for.

But there are so many upsides to working in oil and gas. These are the premiere, best reasons why you should seriously consider this as a path for you. The good definitely outweighs the bad when it comes to oil and gas jobs, and that shouldn’t be forgotten.

The Benefits Of An Oil And Gas Job

The Pay

Let’s start with perhaps the most exciting – and maybe surprising – aspect of working in gas and oil. The pay is quite good. The money that you make in one of these positions is far better than most other people your age.

Why do oil and gas jobs pay so well? The basic answer is that the entire industry does quite well, year after year. Even in the worst economic times, gas companies are always turning a profit which means they are able to turn those profits over to the employees and pay them a very friendly wage.

It is also high-paying because some of the jobs are intense, difficult, and even dangerous at times. You will work hard for your money, and you will be compensated appropriately.

Many oil and gas jobs are taken by young people who are looking to see the world and enjoy themselves and be physical and try new things. And the fact that they are able to get paid so well is just a major bonus that not many people think about before they sign up.

The Opportunities

Another great thing about working in oil and gas is that you will have plenty of chances to find a job. It doesn’t matter what your position is or what part of the world you reside in, there is an oil company waiting to hire you if you are qualified and trained for any number of positions.

There are an immense number of successful oil companies all over Earth. They are working 365 days a year, at numerous locations, with countless jobs that need filling. If you are able to make it at one of those companies, you are able to make it at many others.

Job security is important with any position, and it’s so nice that you will have it with an oil and gas profession. You won’t have to worry about how you’ll make ends meet if you, unfortunately, lose a position. You will be sure that your qualifications can carry on to the next job.

The Travel

Here is something fun that not many people think about when they contemplate a career in oil and gas. You can see the world with these jobs!

Sure, there is a chance that you will be best suited for an office job in an oil and gas company. Yet, even then, you will get opportunities to travel on behalf of your company.

And if you are a roughneck or engineer or geologist, you will surely be hopping on planes, seeing new places, meeting unique people, and engaging in activities that other people never even dream of.

There are few jobs like oil and gas jobs in companies like ExxonMobile, and one of the main reasons why is that they can quite literally take you all over the world.

Is There A Future In Oil And Gas?

Yes, there are plenty of major reasons why oil and gas should be your career path. Yet, some people are worried about what the future will bring for this industry.

As mentioned before, green alternatives to oil and gas are becoming more popular. So, what does that mean for the jobs we have spoken about? Are they at risk of being shut down or limited?

The answer is most likely no. Jobs like operators and geologists will always be needed, even if the oil and gas industry is impacted and minimized in any way.

Plus, if an oil and gas company does have to limit some of these jobs, there are other industries – such as mining – that would hire you for your qualifications and the things you learned while working in oil and gas.

The honest truth is that the world is changing, and peoples’ opinions about using oil have altered over the years and continue to. But these changed feelings will not close up the oil industry because it is continually adapting to survive and provide for common people and businesses all over the world.

Conclusion

Even with all the changes that have come to the world lately, the oil and gas field has never been so exciting. There are numerous jobs waiting for you, with great pay and even better chances of excitement and adventure.

If you are looking for a job that will give you so much more than just a paycheck, a profession in oil and gas is a brilliant way to go.

Related Reading: Is Energy a Good Career Path?