May 2026

Occupational employment and wages in oil and gas industries, May 2024

Employment in industries related to oil and gas extends well beyond extracting the natural resources from the ground. They must also be transported away from the extraction site, distributed to businesses and consumers, and transformed into other products, which leads to substantial employment levels in a number of related industries. This article examines data from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for five “oil and gas” industries: oil and gas extraction, support activities for mining, pipeline transportation, natural gas distribution, and petroleum and coal products manufacturing. The article compares employment and wages for various occupational groups for each of the five industries. Together, the five industries had 672,010 jobs in May 2024 and tended to pay higher wages than all industries combined, even in the same occupational categories.

Jobs related to oil and gas are not limited to extracting these natural resources from the ground. The industries involved with oil and gas generate many jobs downstream in the economy, as the oil and gas are transported away from the extraction site, distributed to businesses and consumers, and transformed into other products. This article examines May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program for five industries related entirely or mainly to oil and gas, hereafter referred to as “oil and gas industries.”¹ These include two extraction-related industries: oil and gas extraction and support activities for mining, which includes services performed on a contract or fee basis to support oil and gas operations, such as drilling wells or building and dismantling rigs. The other three industries examined are involved in transportation, distribution, and manufacturing: pipeline transportation; natural gas distribution; and petroleum and coal products manufacturing, which includes refining crude oil and making products such as asphalt paving mixture, motor oil, and brake fluid.² In total, these five industries had employment of 672,010 in May 2024 and generally had higher wages than those for all industries combined, both overall and for many occupational groups.

Construction and extraction jobs made up nearly half of employment in support activities for mining

The largest oil and gas industry was support activities for mining, with total employment of 276,540 in May 2024. Construction and extraction occupations made up nearly half (47.4 percent) of employment in this industry. Construction and extraction was also the largest occupational group in oil and gas extraction (23.6 percent of industry employment), followed by management occupations (15.1 percent). (See chart 1.) Production was the largest occupational group in both pipeline transportation (26.8 percent) and petroleum and coal products manufacturing (40.3 percent). Finally, installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (23.5 percent) and office and administrative support occupations (15.0 percent) were the two largest occupational groups in natural gas distribution.

All five oil and gas industries had above-average mean wages

Oil and gas extraction was the highest paying oil and gas industry, with an annual mean wage of $114,750, while support activities for mining, with an annual wage of $70,200, was the lowest paying industry. All five oil and gas industries had annual mean wages above the average of $67,920 for all industries combined. In addition to higher-than-average overall wages, the oil and gas industries also had above-average wages for many of the occupational groups within them. For example, annual mean wages for architecture and engineering occupations ranged from $113,610 in support activities for mining to $156,030 in oil and gas extraction, both considerably higher than the average of $103,980 for all industries combined. (See chart 2.) Computer and mathematical occupations were an exception: Among the five oil and gas industries, only oil and gas extraction ($129,520) had an annual mean wage that was substantially above the average of $116,810 for this group.

Four out of five oil and gas industries had above-average shares of STEM jobs

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations made up 18.5 percent of employment in oil and gas extraction, compared with 6.7 percent of national employment. (See chart 3.) Pipeline transportation (14.4 percent), natural gas distribution (13.8 percent), and petroleum and coal products manufacturing (12.4 percent) also had above-average shares of STEM employment.³ STEM jobs made up about 5.9 percent of employment in support activities for mining, which was close to the national average (6.7 percent).

Engineers made up above-average shares of STEM employment in oil and gas industries

Compared with all industries combined, STEM jobs in oil and gas industries were more likely to be in engineering and less likely to be in computer occupations. Computer occupations made up 46.5 percent of overall STEM employment but ranged from 6.5 percent to 28.2 percent of STEM employment in oil and gas industries. (See chart 4.) By contrast, engineers made up between 36.2 percent and 52.9 percent of STEM employment in oil and gas industries, compared with only 17.0 percent of overall STEM employment. Physical scientists and drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians also made up above-average shares of STEM employment in most oil and gas industries.

Support activities for mining had a below-average share of occupations typically requiring a bachelor’s degree for entry

Most oil and gas industries had above-average employment shares of occupations typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent for entry, and they had below-average shares of occupations typically requiring no formal educational credential for entry.⁴ For example, occupations typically requiring a high school level of education for entry made up approximately 61 percent of employment in pipeline transportation, natural gas distribution, and petroleum and coal products manufacturing and 38.9 percent of employment in support activities for mining, compared with 37.1 percent of overall employment. (See chart 5.) Support activities for mining was the only oil and gas industry with an above-average share of occupations typically requiring no formal educational credential for entry and a below-average share of occupations typically requiring a bachelor’s degree.

Oil and gas industries had above-average wages for nearly all entry-level education categories

For occupations with a given typical entry-level educational requirement, oil and gas industries consistently paid mean wages that were higher than the average for all industries combined. For example, annual mean wages for occupations typically requiring a high school diploma or the equivalent for entry ranged from $67,790 in support activities for mining to approximately $91,000 in both pipeline transportation and natural gas distribution, compared with $53,840 for all industries combined. (See chart 6.) The exceptions were the associate’s degree category in support activities for mining, which had a below-average mean wage, and the master’s degree category in pipeline transportation, for which wages were not significantly different from the all-industries average.⁵

Wellhead pumpers had more than 11,000 jobs in oil and gas extraction

The two largest occupations in oil and gas extraction were wellhead pumpers (11,480) and oil and gas service unit operators (10,480). (See chart 7.) These two occupations combined made up 19.3 percent of employment in the industry. Other large occupations in oil and gas extraction included general and operations managers (6,740), petroleum engineers (5,830), first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers (4,990), and oil and gas roustabouts (4,940).

Oil and gas roustabouts was the largest occupation in support activities for mining

Seven of the ten largest occupations in support activities for mining were construction and extraction occupations. (See chart 8.) These included the two largest occupations in this industry, oil and gas roustabouts (35,070) and oil and gas service unit operators (29,160), as well as first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers (18,390). Outside of the construction and extraction group, the largest occupations in support activities for mining were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (18,540) and general and operations managers (11,340).

Oil and gas extraction typically had higher wages than support activities for mining

Oil and gas extraction had significantly higher mean wages than support activities for mining in more than two-thirds of the occupations for which wage estimates were available for both industries. Most of the remaining occupations had similar wages in both industries. Chart 9 shows annual mean wages for selected occupations that were common in one or both industries. Oil and gas extraction had higher wages for all of these occupations except oil and gas rotary drill operators and oil and gas roustabouts, for which wages were not significantly different in the two industries.

Petroleum engineers was the largest STEM occupation in oil and gas extraction

Among the oil and gas industries discussed in this article, oil and gas extraction had the highest percentage of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations. (See chart 10.) Petroleum engineers, with employment of 5,830, was the largest STEM occupation in this industry, followed by geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers (2,240). Other large STEM occupations in oil and gas extraction included industrial engineers (1,590), architectural and engineering managers (1,100), and software developers (630).

Petroleum pump system operators was the largest occupation in pipeline transportation

Several of the largest occupations in pipeline transportation were directly related to pumping and distributing oil and gas: petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers (7,330); gas plant operators (4,930); pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (2,040); and gas compressor and gas pumping station operators (1,970). (See chart 11.) The largest occupations in this industry also included industrial machinery mechanics (4,360) and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (3,110).

Occupations related to construction or maintenance were among the largest in natural gas distribution

Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door, was the largest occupation in natural gas distribution, with 12,580 jobs in May 2024. (See chart 12.) The largest occupations in this industry also included several other occupations related to construction or maintenance, such as plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (5,620) and first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers (4,230). Customer service representatives (6,960) and gas plant operators (5,840) were the largest occupations in this industry that were not related to construction or maintenance.

Pipeline transportation and natural gas distribution often had similar wages for the same occupation

Unlike the two extraction-related industries, neither of the industries related to oil and gas transportation and distribution had consistently higher wages than the other. Among all occupations for which wage estimates were available in both industries, about 29 percent had higher wages in pipeline transportation and another 29 percent had higher wages in natural gas distribution. (See chart 13.) The remaining occupations had similar wage levels in both industries. Of the selected occupations shown, half had wages that were not significantly different between the two industries. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers had higher wages in natural gas distribution, while four occupations had higher wages in pipeline transportation: general and operations managers; first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers; petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers; and plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.

Transportation managers among the highest paying occupations in natural gas distribution typically requiring less than a bachelor’s degree for entry

Transportation, storage, and distribution managers ($165,880); property, real estate, and community association managers ($143,410); and power plant operators ($139,840) were among the highest paying occupations in natural gas distribution that typically require less than a bachelor’s degree for entry. (See table 1.) Annual mean wages for these three occupations were above the average for occupations typically requiring a bachelor’s degree in both the natural gas distribution industry ($131,860) and for all industries combined ($108,520). Most of the occupations shown typically required a high school diploma or equivalent for entry. However, most of these occupations also typically require work experience in a related occupation, medium- to long-term on-the-job training or apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Table 1. Highest paying occupations in natural gas distribution that typically require less than a bachelor’s degree for entry, May 2024

Occupation	Annual mean wage, in dollars
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers	165,880
Property, real estate, and community association managers	143,410
Power plant operators	139,840
Real estate sales agents	133,210
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment	131,870
First-line supervisors of production and operating workers	128,800
Electrical power-line installers and repairers	128,490
Telecommunications line installers and repairers	127,470
Crane and tower operators	120,530
Electricians	120,420
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Petroleum pump system operators was the largest occupation in petroleum and coal products manufacturing

Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers was the largest occupation in petroleum and coal products manufacturing, with 20,420 jobs representing about 18.3 percent of employment in the industry. (See chart 14.) The largest occupations in this industry also included first-line supervisors of production and operating workers (5,530); mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders (4,320); and industrial machinery mechanics (3,680).

Most of the large occupations in petroleum and coal products manufacturing had above-average wages

Among the large occupations in petroleum and coal products manufacturing, 7 in 10 had annual mean wages above the U.S. average of $67,920. (See chart 15.) These included petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers ($96,650), which was the largest occupation in this industry, as well as general and operations managers ($176,140) and industrial production managers ($149,230). Three of the large occupations had below-average wages: laborers and hand freight, stock, and material movers ($49,910); mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders ($57,500); and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers ($59,600).

Several occupations typically requiring high school for entry had mean wages of over $100,000 in petroleum and coal products manufacturing

Occupations typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent for entry had an annual mean wage of $86,990 in petroleum and coal products manufacturing, higher than the average of $53,840 for all industries combined. The above-average wage for occupations typically requiring high school for entry was due partly to petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers, which had an annual mean wage of $96,650 and made up nearly 30 percent of industry employment in this education category. Several other occupations in this category had annual mean wages of $100,000 or more in petroleum and coal products manufacturing, including first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers ($128,610); sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel ($122,740); and transportation, storage, and distribution managers ($117,510). (See table 2.)

Conclusion

The oil and gas industries extend well beyond those involved with extracting the resources from the ground. In addition to the extraction process, oil and gas must be moved from the original sites, transported to other locations for processing, and finally distributed to businesses and consumers, all of which leads to substantial employment in industries related to oil and gas. This article uses data from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey to compare the wages and employment levels for various occupational groups in several industries related to oil and gas. The five oil and gas industries discussed in this article had a total of 672,010 jobs in May 2024 and tended to pay higher wages across all occupations and for many occupational groups than the average in all industries combined.