Oil Rig Worker in the News

[MIGMaster]

http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/10/news/economy/oil_workers/index.htm?hpt=hp_t2

They seem surprised that rig workers earn 100,000 a year !!!! Obiviously they haven't been out West - I have a buddy who was earning $220,000 a year reading core samples..... he has his high school education, was a Mountie for a year and then quit to be a rig pig in Alberta for 5 years. During that time he just kept taking various courses to get more and more trade tickets/credentials (most of which his employer paid for) and boom! He earns more than most doctors in my area.

[Gusington]

^Thank you Sir. You have given me a new title to use locally.

[MIGMaster]

Rig Pig ?

[Gusington]

Nope.

[Windigo]

Hmm let me drop some numbers on you.

1/. A class 1 driver (semitrailer trucks) easily make 100K a year working oil field
2/. An instrumentation or construction/pipeline tech... 200-225K a year working oilfield
3/. Construction trade (any type) 150-250K per year
4/. Any engineering trade with project management experience 200-250K per year.
5/. Environmental/laboratory technician ... 75-150K per year

anything health field related... 100K + if full time in private practice

sales.... OMFG if in car/truck/home land, etc.

[Jack Nastyface]

Hmm let me drop some numbers on you.
1/. A class 1 driver (semitrailer trucks) easily make 100K a year working oil field
2/. An instrumentation or construction/pipeline tech... 200-225K a year working oilfield
3/. Construction trade (any type) 150-250K per year
4/. Any engineering trade with project management experience 200-250K per year.
5/. Environmental/laboratory technician ... 75-150K per year
anything health field related... 100K + if full time in private practice
sales... OMFG if in car/truck/home land, etc.

Yeah...but a lot of these jobs are in Fort McMurray area where a 2 bed / 1 bath apartment will cost you $2400 - $2800/mo.
If you are lucky enough to work oil field (read: tar sands 'cause oil drilling in Alberta is dropping) you're probably doing okay.  If you are expecting natural gas to rebound...you're going to have to wait some time.

A little personal anecdote:  in 2007 during the boom years, the inventory of jet-skis and ski-boats in Alberta was bought up by the beginning of June.  Two years later (after the crash and the normalization of oil and natural gas prices) used RV's and assorted rec. toys could be bought on craiglist for firesale prices.

A lotta bit up, then a lotta bit down....

Jack Nastyface

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Rig Pig ?

I like the sound of Mud Engineer. They have to be hawt in bikinis. 8)

[MIGMaster]

I imagine your salary is right up there Windy ! Us valued gov't employees are hard to come by  ;) Maybe 40cent and I should move out - can we stay with you ?

[Windigo]

Hmm let me drop some numbers on you.
1/. A class 1 driver (semitrailer trucks) easily make 100K a year working oil field
2/. An instrumentation or construction/pipeline tech... 200-225K a year working oilfield
3/. Construction trade (any type) 150-250K per year
4/. Any engineering trade with project management experience 200-250K per year.
5/. Environmental/laboratory technician ... 75-150K per year
anything health field related... 100K + if full time in private practice
sales... OMFG if in car/truck/home land, etc.

Yeah...but a lot of these jobs are in Fort McMurray area where a 2 bed / 1 bath apartment will cost you $2400 - $2800/mo.
If you are lucky enough to work oil field (read: tar sands 'cause oil drilling in Alberta is dropping) you're probably doing okay.  If you are expecting natural gas to rebound...you're going to have to wait some time.

A little personal anecdote:  in 2007 during the boom years, the inventory of jet-skis and ski-boats in Alberta was bought up by the beginning of June.  Two years later (after the crash and the normalization of oil and natural gas prices) used RV's and assorted rec. toys could be bought on craiglist for firesale prices.

A lotta bit up, then a lotta bit down....

Jack Nastyface

Not knowing where you're hailing from, but any centre north of Edmonton brings you the glittering oil industry wage bucks. My son in law worked for two years in Grande Prairie driving fluid trucks.... came back south and bought a new house (outright) in Sylvan Lake and  now is happy as a pig in poop working seasonal building roads.

If you go in with a fiscal plan and work your ass off, you come out after 2-3 years with a 2-300K nestegg.