Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Career, Salary and Skills
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $58,160 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 43,140. Wage data is published for 69 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
47-5013.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$58,160
Hourly median
$27.96
Employment
43,140
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.00 | 3.62 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Operation and Control | 3.75 | 3.50 |
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.38 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 2.62 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Writing | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
Technology
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Data logger software
- Inventory tracking software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Time and attendance software
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in TXMedian $49,820 · Employment 16,820
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in Houston, TXMedian $49,940 · Employment 5,400
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in Midland, TXMedian $49,470 · Employment 3,460
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in LAMedian $60,760 · Employment 3,130
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in NDMedian $60,810 · Employment 3,000
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in OKMedian $56,680 · Employment 2,980
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in COMedian $60,290 · Employment 2,930
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in CAMedian $62,580 · Employment 2,820
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in NMMedian $64,990 · Employment 2,600
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in Odessa, TXMedian $49,080 · Employment 1,730
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in PAMedian $54,780 · Employment 1,520
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in Bakersfield, CAMedian $62,170 · Employment 1,360
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.