Is Oil & Gas Production a Good Career Path?

If you have tied up your laces to get your foot in the oil and gas career, a question must be striking in your mind, is oil & gas production a good career path for you?

Then here is your answer:

Finding work and getting a job in the oil and gas industry is the best thing that could happen to you right now and in the future.

Because:

There are many different career opportunities in the oil and gas sector, be it offshore or onshore, seismic shipyards, drilling rigs, shale oil exploration, or traditional office jobs.

Although you may have to deal with intense long shifts and harsh working conditions pursuing a career in the oil and gas industry, going the extra mile in this field is definitely rewarding, because the salaries are higher, typically above average.

On average, full-time employees in the oil & gas industry work 49.5 hours per week, while part-time employees work 20 hours per week.

While working for an oil company may have negative effects on the health of our environment, the industry is still going forward as it has adapted to some changes and is now paying greater attention to carbon management and the health of our planet.

No matter how much green technologies are advancing, the oil and gas industry still has a bright future, because oil is as necessary as breathing. For as long as there is oil, career opportunities in the oil rig and gas industry will always be available.

The need for workers in the oil field industry is global, which means that there will never be a shortage of work in this industry.

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.

Is Oil & Gas Production a Good Career Path? How to Get Into It?

Working in the oil & gas sector can be extremely rewarding, both personally and professionally. Continual developments mean it is growing at a rapid pace, and because of this, you should keep an eye on the latest trends emerging.

Due to the sheer scale of the oil & gas industry, there is a wide range of disciplines to choose from including oil & gas jobs in transmission, refining, and distribution, as well as energy engineers, and energy Traders. Be sure to do complete research on how to become an energy trader or engineer, in order to understand what roles are available, which one interests you the most, and what skills and qualifications you need to land that position.

Many companies organize networking events, which are a great way for students and graduates to meet with professionals in the field, and establish useful contacts with which to move forward.

Important Things to Consider in the Oil and Gas Industry

No industry is perfect, as every industry has some advantages and disadvantages. So here are the important things to consider in the oil and gas industry:

1. Workplace Safety

The major concern of the oil and gas industry has always revolved around workplace safety. Many people did not choose the oil field career just because of the poor safety protocols and uncertain workers’ safety.

But:

You need not worry anymore.

Because:

Recently, the industry has been paying special attention to workplace safety and has introduced new safety protocols. A high level of commitment to industry best practices and new protocols has led to employees of the natural gas and oil industry experiencing injuries and illnesses at a much-reduced rate.

The renewed safety standards are a welcome change for anyone considering a future in the oil and gas industry.

2. Working Conditions

In the oil and gas industry, you can be:

Sitting in a furnished, air-conditioned, comfortable office,

OR

Working in extreme, harsh conditions.

The working conditions in the oil and gas industry depend on the job position and location. Like, offshore rigs have the most challenging working conditions.

So, this is an important factor that you should know. Because, some people like to take up the challenge and steer ahead, while some refrain from doing hard work in extreme conditions.

So, what’s your take on that?

What kind of Career Paths that you can Opt for In the Oil and Gas Industry?

The oil and gas industry offers a number of career paths. You can choose the one that matches your interest and qualification. These include:

1. Petroleum Engineer
2. Energy Engineer
3. Geoscientist
4. Engineering Geologist
5. Hydrographic Surveyor
6. Mining Engineer
7. Mudlogger
8. Marketing Coordinator
9. Commercial Analyst

1. Petroleum Engineer

A petroleum engineer is involved in almost all stages of oil and gas field assessment, development, and production.

There are petroleum geologists to analyze subsurface structures to find hydrocarbons. In addition, reservoir engineers assist in risk assessment. So, there are different career paths that you can choose as a petroleum engineer. We have also covered a separate guide on is Petroleum Engineering a good career with reasons.

Average Salary of a Petroleum Engineer

The average salary of a Petroleum Engineer is estimated at $96,374 per year.

2. Energy Engineer

Energy engineer is involved in the production of energy through natural resources, such as the extraction of oil and gas, or from renewable sources of energy, such as biofuels, hydro, wind, and solar power.

Their job involves carrying out energy surveys and site inspections.

Average Salary of an Energy Engineer

The average salary of an Energy Engineer is estimated at $80,600 per year.

3. Geoscientist

A geoscientist (geophysicist, geologist, geochemist, hydrogeologist, or sedimentologist) is employed for interpreting geophysical, geochemical, and geological data to develop models for discovering commercially viable reserves of natural resources, such as oil, gas, minerals, and water.

Average Salary of a Geoscientist

The average salary of a Geoscientist is estimated at $62,000 – $150,000 per year.

4. Engineering Geologist

The job of an engineering geologist is to assess natural conditions, such as geological risks. They deal with factors that can cause problems for engineering processes.

Average Salary of an Engineering Geologist

The average salary of an Engineering Geologist is estimated at $48,487 per year.

5. Hydrographic Surveyor

Hydrographic surveyors usually work onboard survey ships and platforms for measuring and mapping underwater surfaces and studying the morphology of the seabed.

They also conduct studies that facilitate marine research into ocean currents and the impact of climate change and industrialization on the marine environment.

Average Salary of a Hydrographic Surveyor

The average salary of a Hydrographic Surveyor is estimated at $49,397 per year.

6. Mining Engineer

A mining engineer ensures the efficient development of mines and other surface and underground operations. They are involved in every stage of the mining project.

Before a new site is developed, they assess its viability, oversee mining production processes, and are involved in the final closure and rehabilitation process.

Average Salary of a Mining Engineer

The average salary of a Mining Engineer is estimated at $54,218 – $119,797 per year.

7. Mudlogger

A mudlogger monitors drilling activity. Moreover, he is responsible for recording information about the well status during the extraction of oil or gas.

Average Salary of a Mudlogger

The average salary of a Mudlogger is estimated at $21,929 – $68,426 per year.

8. Marketing Coordinator

The marketing coordinator oversees marketing and supply operations. They have to work closely with the client services to ensure a smooth supply chain. They also have to prepare reports on the sale and supply of products.

Average Salary of a Marketing Coordinator

The average salary of a Marketing Coordinator is estimated at $76,375 per year.

9. Commercial Analyst

The commercial analyst develops a business plan for development and ensures that all the developmental activities are in line with the new regulations. They facilitate meetings to prepare agendas to market their products across the world. 

Average Salary of a Commercial Analyst

The average salary of a Commercial Analyst is estimated at $59,081 per year.

Impact of COVID on the Oil and Gas Industry

The pandemic has severely affected the oil and gas industry. The industry employed 156,000 workers in June 2020, down 11.7% from February 2020 when approximately 176,600 workers were employed.

The oil and gas services sub-sector was most affected, with an employment decrease of 26.2% or 20,500 jobs. The pipelines sub-sector also decreased by 9.4% (-1,200 jobs), while the exploration and production sub-sector increased by 1.3% (+1,100 jobs).

In addition, Canada’s unemployment rate in the oil and gas sector hit 16.1% in June 2020, up 4.3 percentage points from the previous month and more than triple the 5.3% unemployment rate recorded in February 2020.

While the unemployment rate for all sub-sectors rose in June, it was significantly higher for the oil and gas services sub-sector (23.3%) than for pipelines (16.5%) and exploration and production (10.4%).

Canada’s direct oil and gas employment declined by more than 6,700 positions in June 2020 compared to the previous month. About 70% of the net job losses were in Alberta.

Conclusion

This is all we had to talk about is oil & gas production a good career path or not. We hope you find relevant information and must build up your mind for a career in the oil and gas industry. If there’s something else you wanna share, approach us through the comment section.

The Primus Workforce team is proudly built on hands-on industry knowledge and experience.