Last Updated on Nov 19, 2022
Do you have what it takes to succeed as a welder on an oil rig? Are you curious about their salary scales? If that’s the case, you’re not alone. Every firm that operates in the oil or gas industry has a section devoted to equipment maintenance. Welders do this on oil rigs. As a result, oil rig welding is a vital sector that may pay well.
Let’s look at how much an oilfield welder earns before entering the field. We’ll also tell what factors influence their pay.
The oil and natural gas business in the United States made 181 billion us dollars in 2018. Unless you’re a welder or thinking about becoming one, you might be wondering how you can get a bigger piece of the pie and how big that piece will be. Welders are an important element of the offshore oil process, which is excellent news.
Oil rigs require skilled welders to preserve structural stability and quickly fix any losses, and they’re prepared to pay for it. How much cash you make would ultimately rely on how useful you are to the firm you work for, just like in any other job. Several things can do to raise your worth as a worker and, as a result, your compensation. Let’s take a look at them one by one.
Oil Rig Worker Salary In Popular States
According to employment statistics, oil rig soldering is among the most in-demand occupations in the petroleum, energy resources, and energy industries. The average wage for oil rig workers has recently risen throughout rush hours. We’ve subdivided the pay of oil rig welders in terms of hours, day, week, and so on.
In an hour, how much does an oil rig worker earn?
Oil rig welders make an average hourly wage of $37.60 in the oil and gas business.
Daily Earnings Average
Welders on oil rigs may earn up to $290 per day. However, it is contingent on the number of hours done. Some oil rig welders labour for six months a year, while others only for three. Welders on oil rigs, on the other hand, often work eight hours each day.
Weekly Wage Average
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, oil rig workers will make $1,483 per week if they perform 40 hours weekly.
Oil Rig Welders’ Average Monthly Salary
Oil rig workers earn an average of $6430 per month.
The statistics of Oil rig workers’ salaries in popular states
We found eight states where the average wage for an Oil Rig worker is loftier than the nationwide standard. New York is at the awning of the checklist, followed by Vermont and New Hampshire in second or third place. Vermont exceeds the national rate by 9.1%, while New York resumes the trend with a $12,026 (16.5%) increase above the national median of $72,751.
With just a few states paying more than the national average, migrating to a new place to work as an Oil Rig should be cautiously approached. One should also take standard housing costs into account.
North Sea Oil Rig worker salary data:
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| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| San Mateo, CA | $78,159 | $6,513 | $1,503 | $37.58 |
| Boston, MA | $77,604 | $6,467 | $1,492 | $37.31 |
| Daly City, CA | $76,762 | $6,397 | $1,476 | $36.91 |
| Berkeley, CA | $76,721 | $6,393 | $1,475 | $36.88 |
| Renton, WA | $76,525 | $6,377 | $1,472 | $36.79 |
| Santa Monica, CA | $76,515 | $6,376 | $1,471 | $36.79 |
| Lowell, MA | $75,655 | $6,305 | $1,455 | $36.37 |
| Green River, WY | $75,325 | $6,277 | $1,449 | $36.21 |
| Irvine, CA | $74,261 | $6,188 | $1,428 | $35.70 |
| Newark, NJ | $73,827 | $6,152 | $1,420 | $35.49 |
Factors that affect an Oil Rig Welder’s Pay
If you’re searching for work as an oil rig welder, you’re probably aware that pay varies depending on various circumstances. Decades of expertise, geographic area, employer, and a variety of other criteria are among them.
Here’s a rundown of what influences an oil rig welder’s pay. We’ll also discuss what you need to bear in mind as you work toward your objectives.
1. Prior experience
When determining how much an oilfield welder earns, their degree of expertise is the first factor to consider. If you register for entrance welding employment, you will be paid substantially less than if you apply for a senior-level welding post.
The salary rate isn’t the single determinant. It’s also because a company prefers to have someone with numerous years of expertise on their team. Employers will pay an oil rig welder with hardly any experience less than someone who has worked in the industry for many years.
2. Accreditations
You’ll need qualifications to work as just an oil rig welder. It guarantees that you are safe when working on an oil rig and that all safety standards are followed. You will earn more money if you have better training. Oil rig welders who are certified will have more career prospects than those who are not. It will also fetch a greater pay in the employment market. Welding certificates increase the value of a person’s job. It proves that you’re qualified in your sector and showcases your abilities, expertise, and career to the rest of the world.
Certification denotes that you have gained expertise in a certain field. Passing various authority bodies’ examinations will grant you a certificate. The American Welding Society (AWS), for instance, provides welding certification.
3. Employer
Because oilfield welding is a specialised talent, employers that employ oil rig welders significantly affect what the welder produces. A firm that employs a welder to build a new drilling platform, for example, will spend more than a company that hires an oil rig welder to restore an old piece of tools. You might have the same credentials as any other oilfield welder, but you’re more certain to make more money if you work for a firm that offers greater rates. When it comes to figuring in the oil sector, this is true. Oil rig welding positions are higher paid in larger, well-known firms.
4. Location
The location of the oil rig determines the wage that an oilfield welder receives. The more the oil rig action in a given place, the higher an oilfield welder’s wage. An offshore petroleum rig, for example, is situated at sea. The higher cost of living will demand roughly 10% higher payment than a land-based job. The living expenses in certain areas are greater than in others, which will impact an oilfield welder’s total earnings.
5. Skills
A fundamental basis, the better labourer you are, the higher your salary will be. Nevertheless, you’ll make a lot of money if you can accomplish things no one can. The most important thing one can do to boost their worth as an oil rig worker is to learn to weld underground. Oil rigs are situated directly in the middle of the ocean and are vulnerable to damage even below the surface. Underwater, cracking, bending, and bending can all happen. These underwater parts are important to the rig’s support system and must be dealt with immediately.
Underwater welding is risky, demanding, and specialised, but it is also critical to the rig’s performance. For each of these factors, underwater welders earn the greatest pay off any oilfield welder and donning a diving suit seems to be the only way of approaching the $300,000-per-year barrier.
An oil rig technician is among the most in-demand positions if you’re a welder searching for a new job. Oil rig welding may be a rewarding and enjoyable job whether you’re just starting or have a lot of expertise.
Welders on offshore oil rigs often labour for 12 to 18 weeks or months. Based on the scope you’re working on; you might need to visit multiple offshore oil rigs as an oilfield welder. As previously said, the remuneration is often good.