By
Leanna Seah
February 5, 2026
Updated
February 5, 2026
How much do oil rig workers make in 2026?
The oil and gas industry consistently provides some of the top salaries worldwide. Although wages may vary due to factors such as experience, location, and specific roles, the overall prospects remain highly competitive.
Read our article to learn more about oil rig jobs salary trends and the top-earning oil rig occupations.
And if you are looking for an oil and gas job, you can find plenty on our candidate portal.
Oil rig jobs salary trends in 2026
Fifty per cent of rig workers report a salary increase, with 22% seeing rises above 5%. Five per cent experienced a pay decrease, including 3% with reductions of over 5%.
Among hiring managers, 60% say salaries have increased, and 33% report rises above 5% (down one point from 2025). Nine per cent have seen salaries fall, including 6% by more than 5%.
Salary expectations remain upbeat. Sixty-seven per cent of oil field workers expect a rise next year (down from 71%), with 36% forecasting increases over 5% (down from 42%). Hiring managers are slightly less positive, with 68% anticipating pay growth compared to 72% last year; 39% expect rises above 5% and only 7% foresee declines.
Airswift CEO James Allen says:
These pay rises are especially positive given the turbulent backdrop of the year. A promising pipeline of projects is putting the industry on an upward trajectory, and with competition for talent remaining fierce, hiring managers will need a proactive people strategy to secure talent early.
What is the average oil rig worker salary?
Source: Zoran Orcik via Canva.com
Working on an oil rig offers competitive salary structures across a variety of roles, providing excellent earning potential even for those just starting out. As specialised skills and leadership skills develop over time, industry professionals can see significant increases in their pay, with some salaries starting in the six-figure range.
Whether you're entering the field with no prior experience or bringing specialised qualifications such as offshore certifications, the oil and gas industry offers rewarding financial opportunities across all levels—from entry-level oil rig jobs to mid-level positions and beyond.
Entry-level maintenance roustabouts can earn between $50,000 to $70,000 per year, with opportunities for training and career advancement.
Experienced professionals such as drilling supervisors or project managers can earn more than $300,000 annually.
The following tables from the GETI 2026 report highlight regional variations in day rates and annual salaries for oil and gas professionals, offering insights into global compensation trends across key roles in the industry:
| Oil & Gas - Contractor day rates by region (USD) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Title | Africa | Asia | Australasia | Europe | Latin America | Middle East | North America |
| Averages | 916 | 626 | 896 | 808 | 377 | 647 | 776 |
| Accountant | 488 | 310 | 472 | 450 | 171 | 422 | 400 |
| Administrator | 204 | 150 | 407 | 200 | 170 | 214 | 280 |
| Chemical Engineer | 677 | 509 | 949 | 700 | 224 | 608 | 631 |
| Civil Engineer | 646 | 529 | 856 | 650 | 211 | 557 | 801 |
| Commissioning Engineer | 1185 | 633 | 1118 | 1139 | 403 | 579 | 987 |
| Construction Engineer | 931 | 563 | 848 | 824 | 278 | 621 | 803 |
| Construction Manager | 1199 | 979 | 955 | 1033 | 492 | 681 | 850 |
| Contracts Manager | 1011 | 702 | 990 | 796 | 426 | 707 | 680 |
| Drilling Engineer | 1175 | 900 | 1156 | 1029 | 569 | 822 | 818 |
| Drilling Supervisor | 1376 | 1250 | 1574 | 1317 | 671 | 1098 | 1258 |
| Electrical Engineer | 894 | 613 | 721 | 860 | 442 | 580 | 900 |
| Finance Manager | 773 | 558 | 758 | 750 | 423 | 650 | 720 |
| Geophysicist | 1347 | 759 | 1132 | 850 | 393 | 785 | 869 |
| HSE Manager | 992 | 540 | 1239 | 800 | 376 | 677 | 800 |
| Inspection Engineer | 1027 | 519 | 742 | 700 | 447 | 549 | 1019 |
| Instrumentation Engineer | 957 | 610 | 794 | 697 | 413 | 610 | 900 |
| Maintenance Engineer | 847 | 628 | 763 | 716 | 333 | 569 | 646 |
| Mechanical Engineer | 915 | 529 | 660 | 800 | 309 | 605 | 800 |
| Process Engineer | 948 | 631 | 787 | 879 | 326 | 629 | 828 |
| Production Engineer | 865 | 485 | 985 | 894 | 383 | 700 | 573 |
| Project Engineer | 867 | 691 | 831 | 823 | 460 | 615 | 666 |
| Project Manager | 1002 | 924 | 863 | 880 | 439 | 883 | 719 |
| QA/QC Inspector | 665 | 510 | 891 | 806 | 322 | 598 | 700 |
| Reservoir Engineer | 985 | 649 | 1124 | 864 | 458 | 872 | 967 |
| Welding Engineer | 914 | 480 | 790 | 749 | 298 | 544 | 775 |
| Oil & Gas - Permanent salaries by region (USD) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Title | Africa | Asia | Australasia | Europe | Latin America | Middle East | North America |
| Averages | 88,079 | 80,623 | 159,913 | 88,668 | 52,765 | 85,080 | 100,757 |
| Accountant | 54,684 | 49,717 | 104,246 | 65,430 | 37,568 | 49,122 | 54,493 |
| Administrator | 34,366 | 33,803 | 75,740 | 33,441 | 37,105 | 33,979 | 41,646 |
| Chemical Engineer | 89,775 | 65,065 | 164,430 | 74,874 | 45,360 | 75,333 | 69,000 |
| Civil Engineer | 74,126 | 73,164 | 188,084 | 70,384 | 45,234 | 68,960 | 100,379 |
| Commissioning Engineer | 101,397 | 87,848 | 189,928 | 90,245 | 52,920 | 84,874 | 137,443 |
| Construction Engineer | 110,265 | 91,836 | 142,481 | 96,994 | 49,443 | 70,831 | 105,510 |
| Construction Manager | 107,673 | 112,637 | 180,657 | 95,655 | 81,497 | 112,728 | 100,012 |
| Contracts Manager | 67,226 | 64,738 | 167,746 | 82,483 | 68,040 | 119,202 | 65,059 |
| Drilling Engineer | 98,949 | 120,000 | 211,150 | 109,274 | 52,920 | 113,261 | 116,325 |
| Drilling Supervisor | 123,500 | 125,000 | 303,000 | 144,154 | 67,516 | 145,957 | 174,002 |
| Electrical Engineer | 82,256 | 84,931 | 131,435 | 87,505 | 44,905 | 64,658 | 113,494 |
| Finance Manager | 71,918 | 73,917 | 149,535 | 87,385 | 71,442 | 97,779 | 98,158 |
| Geophysicist | 100,105 | 105,227 | 173,540 | 102,061 | 79,713 | 123,610 | 129,124 |
| HSE Manager | 82,578 | 75,697 | 189,736 | 89,299 | 60,093 | 99,508 | 101,021 |
| Inspection Engineer | 96,235 | 68,753 | 137,982 | 74,861 | 45,360 | 66,851 | 129,602 |
| Instrumentation Engineer | 119,933 | 77,000 | 129,523 | 88,673 | 47,560 | 67,330 | 124,602 |
| Maintenance Engineer | 95,294 | 70,487 | 132,063 | 89,477 | 45,248 | 71,434 | 87,086 |
| Mechanical Engineer | 78,271 | 67,918 | 139,636 | 80,584 | 43,291 | 67,559 | 96,830 |
| Process Engineer | 99,349 | 76,641 | 142,668 | 91,980 | 44,993 | 82,519 | 106,338 |
| Production Engineer | 89,570 | 66,479 | 155,726 | 92,273 | 45,324 | 88,209 | 94,820 |
| Project Engineer | 86,065 | 86,284 | 143,094 | 98,065 | 45,299 | 90,536 | 91,422 |
| Project Manager | 90,734 | 106,076 | 193,731 | 97,240 | 57,960 | 119,110 | 89,539 |
| QA/QC Inspector | 77,235 | 66,000 | 157,862 | 74,642 | 44,987 | 53,523 | 80,909 |
| Reservoir Engineer | 98,782 | 111,751 | 171,335 | 110,570 | 57,456 | 122,247 | 137,069 |
| Welding Engineer | 71,694 | 54,594 | 122,496 | 89,159 | 47,880 | 37,886 | 75,046 |
Where are oil rig salaries the highest?
Highly experienced oil and gas professionals command lucrative salaries. Here are the highest-earning oil platform jobs according to GETI:
Top 5 highest-earning salaries for permanent workers
| Position | Region | Annual Salary (USD) |
| Drilling Supervisor | Australasia | $303,000 |
| Drilling Engineer | Australasia | $211,150 |
| Project Manager | Australasia | $193,731 |
| Commissioning Engineer | Australasia | $189,928 |
| HSE Manager | Australasia | $189,736 |
Top 5 highest-earning rates for contractors
| Position | Region | Day Rate (USD) |
| Drilling Supervisor | Australasia | $1,574 |
| Geophysicist | Africa | $1,347 |
| HSE Manager | Australasia | $1,239 |
| Construction Manager | Africa | $1,199 |
| Commissioning Engineer | Africa | $1,185 |
What is the average oil rig starting salary?
The starting pay for jobs on oil rigs is surprisingly competitive, especially for those with technical skills or relevant certifications. For newcomers, roles like Welding Engineer or QA/QC Inspector are excellent starting points, offering a solid salary and plenty of room for career growth.
Over time, Welding Engineers can move into senior technical roles, including Maintenance Supervisors or Engineering Managers, which come with higher responsibilities and pay scales.
Meanwhile, a QA/QC Inspector is essential to the smooth operation of the rig and offers a clear pathway toward leadership positions in health and safety, quality control management, or even operational oversight.
With experience and further training, these entry-level roles can evolve into highly specialised positions, such as Drilling Supervisors or Project Managers, where salaries can easily surpass six figures.
Many oil companies also offer extensive training programs, allowing workers to specialise in areas like subsea engineering or environmental compliance, further expanding career opportunities.
See below for figures on what an Oil Rig Welding Engineer salary can look like according to region:
- Africa: Up to $71,694 annually
- Asia: Up to $54,594 annually
- Australasia: Up to $122,496 annually
- Europe: Up to $89,159 annually
- Latin America: Up to $47,880 annually
- Middle East; Up to $37,886 annually
- North America: Up to $75,046 annually
For QA/QC Inspectors, salaries range from $44,000 to $80,900 depending on location and experience.
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Offshore oil rig salary expectations in 2026
Often, offshore oil rig jobs pay higher than land-based roles due to the hazardous nature of the work.
Offshore oil rig workers typically earn higher wages to compensate for the physically demanding tasks, long shifts, and extended periods away from home.
These roles often involve working in harsh weather conditions, managing complex machinery, and adhering to strict safety protocols, all of which require specialised training and resilience.
High offshore oil rig salary expectations reflect not only the risks involved but also the technical skills and certifications that offshore workers require to perform the job safely and efficiently.
You may also have opportunities to travel globally, working where production demand is highest. Airswift supports international travel logistics and relocation services to help you take advantage of these opportunities in offshore roles.
Airswift: Your path to lucrative oil and gas careers
Airswift is a global leader in recruiting for the energy sector, offering exceptional opportunities for professionals at all stages of their oil and gas careers. Whether you're just starting out or aiming to boost your salary, we can connect you with roles that match your skills and goals.
We’re dedicated to helping job seekers climb the oil rig salary ladder. With our global network and strong partnerships with major companies, we provide access to unique opportunities to advance your career in this fast-paced environment.
From preparing you for the job application process to ensuring you're positioned to attract top employers, we support your growth every step of the way.
Ready to take the next step? Upload your CV or visit our job portal to explore new oil rig opportunities and elevate your career today.
