17 Best Paying Jobs In Oil & Gas Production in 2022
Despite facing the downturn due to the pandemic, the oil and gas industry is still going up and has a bright future. According to the report of Statista, global demand for crude oil increased from 86.4 million barrels per day in 2010 to 99.7 million barrels per day in 2019. However, in 2020, it fell to 91 million barrels per day due to COVID-19, but it is projected to increase to 99.4 million barrels per day in 2022. Similarly, gasoline demand is forecast at 27.4 million barrels by 2045.
According to datausa, the number of people employed in the oil & gas industry extraction group has been growing at a rate of 9.68%, from 127k people in 2018 to 140k people in 2019.
Additionally, white collar and labour jobs are more in demand in the oil and gas industry, as this industry demands more people to find and get at the oil. There’s a huge demand for petroleum engineers and geoscientists worldwide as well as for labour workers who get their hands dirty working drilling jobs and on pipelines and in refineries.
Keep reading to discover whether oil & gas production is a good career or not and what are some best paying jobs in oil and gas production.
List of 17 Best Paying Jobs In Oil & Gas Production
Getting a job in the Oil and Gas Industry can be difficult, however, if you are lucky enough then these are some of the best paying jobs in the oil rig and gas industry in Canada along with their national and region-wise average annual income:
- Project Manager
- Drilling Supervisor
- Construction Manager
- Petroleum Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Mechanical Engineer
- HSE Manager
- Excavating Engineer
- Project Engineer
- Production Engineer
- Gas Plant Operator
- Well Testers
- Chemical Engineer
- Petroleum Sales Representative
- Vessel Manager
- HR Advisor
- Lease Operator
1. Project Manager
The Project Manager is tasked with ensuring that an entire project from start to finish is on track, on budget, to specifications, and within safety guidelines. The Project Manager’s job also ensures that communication is flowing between groups.
The average Project Manager salary in Canada is $82,808 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Project Manager in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $93,322 |
| Alberta | $89,539 |
| British Columbia | $85,847 |
| Manitoba | $81,081 |
| Saskatchewan | $75,755 |
2. Drilling Supervisor
Drilling Supervisors are in charge of the drill operations and make sure that drilling work is completed properly and on schedule. They often work alongside a management team while the planning of a project’s operations is being developed.
The average Drilling Supervisor salary in Canada is $82,729 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Drilling Supervisor in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $83,585 |
| Alberta | $90,987 |
| British Columbia | $110,000 |
| Manitoba | $69,102 |
| Saskatchewan | $85,181 |
3. Construction Manager
The Construction Manager is responsible for delivering construction in accordance with HSE requirements and schedule. They work closely with the Project Manager in leading teams to manage and control construction projects.
The average Construction Manager’s salary in Canada is $80,478 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Construction Manager in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $85,000 |
| Alberta | $90,000 |
| British Columbia | $80,000 |
| Manitoba | $77,279 |
| Saskatchewan | $75,000 |
4. Petroleum Geologist
Petroleum Geologists search for and discover oil and gas deposits within the earth. They use geological information to analyze which sites companies should drill for oil and recommend the best drilling methods depending on the geological makeup of the area.
The average Petroleum Geologist’s salary in Canada is $161,946 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Petroleum Geologists in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $150,672 |
| Alberta | $152,460 |
| British Columbia | $150,311 |
| Manitoba | $126,053 |
| Saskatchewan | $157,552 |
5. Geophysicist
A Geophysicist studies the physical aspects of the earth in order to determine what lies beneath the surface of the earth.
The average Geophysicist salary in Canada is $75,000 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Geophysicists in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $74,289 |
| Alberta | $95,716 |
| British Columbia | $138,036 |
| Manitoba | $68,859 |
| Saskatchewan | $116,672 |
6. Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineers are responsible to support plant equipment, design, development, installation, and maintenance of oil and gas processing equipment, emphasizing safety, reliability, quality, and sustainability.
The average Mechanical Engineer salary in Canada is $71,000 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Mechanical Engineers in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $67,603 |
| Alberta | $79,931 |
| British Columbia | $69,284 |
| Manitoba | $66,528 |
| Saskatchewan | $71,290 |
7. HSE Manager
Health, Safety, and Environmental Managers (HSE Manager) develop and implement organizational safety programs. They review and keep updated HSE policies, as well as conduct risk assessments and create precautionary measures.
The average HSE Manager salary in Canada is $100,000 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of HSE Manager in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $78,804 |
| Alberta | $76,364 |
| British Columbia | $83,954 |
| Manitoba | $69,473 |
| Saskatchewan | $90,000 |
8. Excavating Engineer
Excavating Engineer manages rig staff and is responsible for assessing and maintaining wells, ensuring safety measures are implemented, and is generally responsible for the financial and technical operations of drilling for oil or gas.
The average Excavating Engineer salary in Canada is $154,421 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Excavating Engineer in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $116,000 |
| Alberta | $121,877 |
| British Columbia | $110,000 |
| Manitoba | $127,310 |
| Saskatchewan | $97,200 |
9. Project Engineer
Project Engineers ensure that design, construction, and major maintenance projects are completed securely, completed within budget, review progress reports and proposed construction changes, as well as monitor project progress for stakeholders.
The average Project Engineer salary in Canada is $85,698 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Project Engineer in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $87,500 |
| Alberta | $89,539 |
| British Columbia | $84,094 |
| Manitoba | $83,749 |
| Saskatchewan | $85,416 |
10. Production Engineer
They are responsible for designing and selecting well equipment to bring it to production after drilling. They monitor the well as it flows to make sure it is efficient and still commercially viable.
The average Production Engineer salary in Canada is $74,100 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Production Engineer in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $69,380 |
| Alberta | $95,482 |
| British Columbia | $73,863 |
| Manitoba | $66,935 |
| Saskatchewan | $97,037 |
11. Gas Plant Operator
Gas plant operator process and distribute gas for utility companies through compressors that maintain the pressure of pipelines. They may also distribute gas to industrial plants using control boards and semiautomatic equipment.
The average Gas Plant Operator salary in Canada is $80,091 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Gas Plant Operator in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $81,917 |
| Alberta | $80,155 |
| British Columbia | $87,154 |
| Manitoba | $76,579 |
| Saskatchewan | $82,319 |
12. Well Testers
Well Tester performs evaluations and assessments of oil pipelines during the development phase to predict stability and risk levels. Well testing operator is a great career option in the oil and gas sector. We have covered a detailed guide on is Well Testing Operator a good career path.
The average Well Tester salary in Canada is $83,215 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Well Tester in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $86,303 |
| Alberta | $85,968 |
| British Columbia | $80,652 |
| Manitoba | $79,584 |
| Saskatchewan | $77,634 |
13. Chemical Engineer
Chemical Engineers conduct a series of tests and evaluations to ensure companies use the correct chemicals to turn crude oil and petroleum into usable material.
The average Chemical Engineer salary in Canada is $80,000 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Chemical Engineer in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $72,500 |
| Alberta | $84,451 |
| British Columbia | $85,750 |
| Manitoba | $76,558 |
| Saskatchewan | $74,733 |
14. Petroleum Sales Representative
Petroleum Sales Representatives sell finished goods for wholesalers and manufacturers to businesses and retailers.
The average Petroleum Sale Representative’s salary in Canada is $74,411 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Petroleum Sales Representative in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $74,221 |
| Alberta | $80,963 |
| British Columbia | $77,141 |
| Manitoba | $66,956 |
| Saskatchewan | $68,105 |
15. Vessel Manager
These individuals oversee and ensure the safe operations of offshore drilling on oil and petroleum vessels.
The average Vessel Manager salary in Canada is $68,750 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Vessel Manager in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $65,331 |
| Alberta | $66,436 |
| British Columbia | $93,078 |
| Manitoba | $51,456 |
| Saskatchewan | $84,003 |
16. HR Advisor
HR Advisors improve relations between management and employees by overseeing grievance procedures, employee investigations, and conflict resolutions.
The average HR Advisor salary in Canada is $69,369 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of HR Advisor in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $51,875 |
| Alberta | $67,500 |
| British Columbia | $65,199 |
| Manitoba | $63,212 |
| Saskatchewan | $73,729 |
17. Lease Operator
Lease Operators ensure that the oil and gas transported to and from drilling sites, processing plants, and gas stations make the trip safely and without damage.
The average Lease Operator salary in Canada is $52,000 per year.
Region-Wise Salary of Lease Operator in Canada
| REGION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $60,481 |
| Alberta | $61,016 |
| British Columbia | $64,422 |
| Manitoba | $49,012 |
| Saskatchewan | $54,555 |
Frequently Asked Questions:
1- What is the highest paying job in the oil and gas industry?
The highest paying job in the oil and gas industry is that of a Petroleum Geologist. The average Petroleum Geologist salary in Canada is $161,946 per year. Petroleum geologists search for and discover oil and gas deposits within the earth. They use geological information to analyze which sites companies should drill for oil.
2- Which oil company pays the best?
PetroChina Company Limited (“PetroChina”) is the best paying Oil Company. It is not only one of the companies with the biggest sales revenue in China, but also one of the largest oil companies in the world. The average salary for PetroChina employees is $77,134 per year.
3- Do oilfield workers make good money?
Yes, the oilfield workers do make good money. Oilfield workers make on average just under $100,000 a year, but salaries can vary widely depending on the skills.
4- How much do Roughnecks make?
The average salary of Roughnecks is $34,680. However, they can make up to $51,550 per year. As a roughneck, you will be a member of the drilling crew. Job responsibilities include long and physically demanding hours, cleaning the rig, maintaining drilling equipment, and helping with transport.
Conclusion
The oil and gas production industry is a lucrative one, with many high-paying jobs. If you’re looking for new career opportunities in the oil and gas sector, consider one of these 17 best paying jobs in oil & gas production. With the right training and experience, you could be on your way to a six-figure salary!
The Primus Workforce team is proudly built on hands-on industry knowledge and experience.