Occupation salary profile

Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

SOC 47-5013 BLS OEWS May 2025

Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. Includes fishing-tool technicians.

National median · BLS
$58,160
▲ +0.31% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$62,470
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
43,140
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$38,940
25th$47,480
Median (50th)$58,160
75th$73,230
90th — top pay$97,560

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

BLS projects employment of service unit operators, oil and gas to grow 1.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
43,800 → 44,300
+500 jobs
Projected change
+1.1%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
3,800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Plus less than 5 years experience
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
0.5% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need no formal education →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operations Monitoring4.0
  • Critical Thinking3.8
  • Operation and Control3.8
  • Monitoring3.6
  • Active Listening3.4
  • Troubleshooting3.4
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.3
  • Complex Problem Solving3.1
  • Equipment Maintenance3.1
  • Active Learning3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Mechanical4.0
  • Mathematics3.9
  • Customer and Personal Service3.7
  • Engineering and Technology3.4
  • Public Safety and Security3.3
  • Education and Training3.2
  • English Language3.1
  • Chemistry3.1
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft WordSAP softwareComputerized maintenance management system CMMSData logger softwareInventory tracking softwareSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareTime and attendance software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What service unit operators, oil and gas do

  • Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
  • Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.
  • Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.
  • Prepare reports of services rendered, tools used, or time required, for billing purposes.
  • Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.
  • Confer with others to gather information regarding pipe or tool sizes or borehole conditions in wells.
  • Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.
  • Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.
Also called
Pulling Unit OperatorRig OperatorService OperatorService Rig OperatorReverse Unit OperatorTool PusherWell Servicing Rig OperatorWireline Operator
More job titles for this occupation (22)
Coiled Tubing OperatorFishing Tool OperatorGather OperatorOil and Gas Equipment OperatorOil and Gas Field TechnicianOil and Shale and Tar Processing TechnicianOil Processing TechnicianOil Well Fishing Tool TechnicianOil Well Service OperatorOil Well Service Unit OperatorService Unit OperatorShale Processing TechnicianSpray Rig OperatorSwabberTar Processing TechnicianUnit OperatorWell CleanerWell Service Pump Equipment OperatorWell Service Rig OperatorWell Services OperatorWell Servicing Rig HandWork Over Rig Operator

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.