Highest paying jobs in the oil industry, The oil industry is one of the most lucrative in the world. It’s also one of the most dangerous, with an average life expectancy of just 57 years if you’re a rig worker. Despite these risks, there are plenty of high-paying jobs to be had in this industry. Some will make you rich while others will simply make sure that your family is well looked after if something happens to you on the job (or off).
15 highest paying jobs in the oil industry
Petroleum engineer.
Petroleum engineers are responsible for designing, developing and maintaining the equipment used in oil and gas exploration, production and transportation. They also conduct research to improve oil and gas recovery processes.
Petroleum engineers may specialize in areas such as well design, reservoir engineering, production operations or drilling technology. The median annual wage for petroleum engineers was $121,610 as of May 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Petroleum geologist.
Petroleum geologists study the geology of oil and gas deposits. They must be familiar with the geology of all types of rocks, especially sedimentary rocks. Petroleum geologists must also be familiar with the geology of a wide variety of areas such as offshore platforms, onshore reserves, and oil-rich shale formations.
The median annual wage for petroleum and natural gas engineers was $109,500 in May 2017*. In order to become a petroleum engineer you need a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or another related field plus at least 5 years’ experience working in an oil refinery or similar environment.*
Nuclear engineer.
Nuclear engineers are in demand in the oil industry. They are responsible for designing, constructing and maintaining nuclear power plant systems. A bachelor’s degree is required for this position, which also requires extensive knowledge of computer engineering principles. The average salary for a nuclear engineer is $103,000 per year.
Chemical engineer.
Chemical engineers are responsible for designing, mixing and applying chemicals to the oil well. They also monitor well production and ensure the safety of the well and environment.
Why chemical engineers?
The oil industry is constantly looking for new ways to increase production, so if you’re an expert in chemistry and want a job that offers a lot of opportunity for advancement, this could be perfect for you.
Geological engineer.
As an oil and gas industry professional, you will be responsible for the exploration of oil and gas reserves. This means you have to go out into the field and find new resources that can be used. Once you have found them, your job continues in several different ways.
You will be responsible for drilling new wells and making sure that they are successful by ensuring that all necessary materials are available at their locations (including personnel). If a well becomes less productive, it’s also your responsibility to determine why this has happened so that appropriate measures may be taken in order to maintain its production level.
As a geological engineer working in the oil industry, you must have strong technical skills as well as excellent communication skills because often times there will be people with differing opinions on what should happen next during exploration projects or drilling operations; therefore it is important for everyone involved (and especially those who supervise) understand what needs doing before making decisions about how best proceed forward together toward success!
Geophysicist.
A geophysicist is a scientist who studies the Earth’s subsurface, using seismic waves and other geophysical methods to measure and analyze rock layers, materials and structures. Geophysicists may work in both public or private employment settings.
Geophysicists earn an average annual salary of $139,000 as of May 2015, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The highest-paid geophysicists work in oil exploration ($235,000), while those working at colleges or universities earned a median income of $124,000 per year during this period.
Education & Experience Requirements:
To become a geophysicist you need at least a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields: physics; mathematics; earth sciences; computer science; engineering (mechanical). Employers usually prefer candidates with additional graduate degrees like master’s degrees or doctorates in related fields such as astronomy or space sciences.
Work experience can also help you advance your career as well as industry certifications from professional societies like American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) which can greatly increase your earning potential.
Well Testers.
Well testers are responsible for testing the flow of fluids from wells. They use this information to help determine whether or not a well is productive, and they also use it to ensure that wells are properly sealed. Well testers may also evaluate changes in production rates over time in order to detect problems and take corrective action.
Well tester jobs are sometimes called well engineer jobs, and they often require certification as a Professional Engineer (PE). To be a certified PE, one must take classes at an accredited school, pass an exam administered by NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying), work under supervision while completing three years of experience (in which time they must have supervised 100 hours of engineering work), become licensed/registered as an engineer in their state or province/country (if required), submit proof that they have taken continuing education courses on topics related to engineering every year (as determined by NCEES), complete 15 continuing education credits every five years after obtaining certification as a PE
Gas Plant Operator
Gas Plant Operators are responsible for the safe operation of gas processing equipment. They are tasked with reading and interpreting blueprints, schematics, and operational manuals. Gas plant operators must be able to make decisions regarding safety protocols when it comes to maintenance on equipment or machinery.
They must also be able to adjust their schedule as needed based on production demands at their facility. The average salary for a Gas Plant Operator is $51 per hour or $101,000 annually ($50 per hour).
Production Engineer
You’d have to be a little bit of an engineer, as well as a bit of a salesman. As the name suggests, production engineers are in charge of operating and optimizing oil rigs.
They ensure that production lines are running smoothly and efficiently and can oversee all aspects of drilling operations, from supervising logistics to managing personnel. The role requires you to think critically about how best to maximize productivity while minimizing costs not an easy feat!
On average, this position earns $130k per year. While that may seem like a lot when you’re just starting out in your career, keep in mind that many people who take on this job will move up quickly within the company they’re working for (and start earning more) or even leave it altogether and find another opportunity elsewhere if they want something more lucrative or challenging after gaining some experience under their belt first.
Petroleum engineer’s assistant.
Petroleum engineers are highly trained professionals who help companies manage the exploration, extraction and transportation of oil. Petroleum engineers’ assistants assist the petroleum engineer by conducting research, preparing reports and maintaining records.
- What is it? A job that requires you to undertake various tasks on behalf of a larger project or company in the oil industry
- Salary: $64,000 – $80,000 per year
- Work environment: This position is often located in an office setting where you will be working as part of a team. The majority of your time will be spent indoors but some duties may require travel to other locations for meetings with clients or vendors.
- Training: You do not need any formal education but it’s helpful if you possess prior work experience in another field such as accounting or finance. Some employers require that candidates have at least an associate’s degree (2-year). Others prefer those who have completed 4 years at university level studying engineering or sciences related fields like chemistry and mathematics which can improve your understanding of how things work under pressure conditions found within wells drilling sites etcetera…
Vessel Manager
A vessel manager is a person who manages the day-to-day operations of an oil tanker, including hiring crew and ensuring safe working conditions.
What is a Vessel Manager?
A vessel manager has many responsibilities related to managing the crew, cargo and equipment of a ship. They must ensure that all safety regulations are followed and that they have enough supplies while at sea. The managers are also responsible for keeping accurate records on fuel consumption, maintenance costs and other expenses.
Job Description
Vessel managers need to be detail oriented because they will be responsible for keeping track of everything from hiring employees to maintaining accurate records about the operation costs of each ship being managed by them.
They must be able to multitask as well since there may be multiple vessels running at once within their fleet which means having several different crews working under one umbrella organization so it’s important that these individuals can keep their focus on whatever task needs attention without getting distracted by other issues occurring simultaneously (or else nothing gets done!).
Offshore mechanic.
Offshore mechanics are experienced workers who repair and maintain oil rigs, platforms and other offshore structures. Some of the duties of offshore mechanics include:
- Determining the causes of equipment failures and working with engineers to resolve them.
- Writing modifications for new or existing equipment as well as making improvements to existing systems.
- Meeting with employees to identify problems with machinery, tools or equipment.
Engineering manager.
If you’re interested in becoming an engineering manager, it’s important to keep in mind that this role requires a lot of responsibility. Engineering managers are responsible for overseeing project development and design, which includes everything from creating new products or services to improving existing ones.
A good engineering manager must have a strong understanding of engineering both technical and managerial as well as business management.
Senior salesperson (equipment).
What is the job description?
- Sell equipment to oil companies and other industries.
What is the salary?
- A senior salesperson can expect to make $211,000 in their first year and as much as $534,000 after five years.
What education is required for this job?
- Jobs for this position require a bachelor’s degree or higher in mechanical engineering or related field; however, many salespeople already have a bachelor’s degree in another field before they start working in this career path.
What is the work environment like?
- Salespeople are typically based at home offices but travel often to meet with potential clients at their place of business or elsewhere around the country/world on occasion.What are some pros/cons of working in this industry?Pros: Travel opportunities; Higher pay than most other jobs
Petroleum Sales Representative.
Buying and selling oil, gas, and other petroleum products is an essential part of the industry. If you’re interested in this line of work and want to become a sales representative, you need to be able to talk people into buying what you’re selling and know how to do so without scaring them off.
The average salary for petroleum sales representatives is $66k annually according to Payscale.com, but it varies depending on your location within the industry (more on that later).
To become one of these professionals, you must have at least a high school diploma or GED (some employers will accept experience working as an office assistant or secretary), plus some computer skills are helpful too because there will be plenty of paperwork involved with managing accounts payable/receivable as well as inventory tracking software programs like Microsoft Excel® or Google Sheets™.
Prospecting new clients and maintaining existing ones are key tasks for petroleum sales representatives; they also manage procurement orders from vendors such as discount chains like Costco Wholesale Corporation® which can include large quantities “of motor oil.”
Conclusion
Now that you know about the top 100 highest paying jobs in the oil industry, you can use this information to help with your career. If you want to make more money with a job in this field then look for one of these positions. It will be worth it!
