Jobs / Construction, installation, and repair / 47-5011.00

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.

US jobs
10,590
Median wage
$58,620 a year
Job family
Construction, installation, and repair

Can agents do the work of derrick operators, oil and gas?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Construction, installation, and repair: Unmeasured (no change in 12 months)

No direct benchmark gives a success rate.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 13%Install commercial or production equipmentNot measured
  • 13%Operate lifting or moving equipmentNot measured
  • 11%Prepare mixtures or solutionsNot measured
  • 10%Maintain tools or equipmentNot measured
  • 9%Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipmentNot measured
  • 8%Monitor operations to ensure adequate performanceNot measured
  • 7%Train others on operational or work proceduresNot measured
  • 7%Operate pumping systems or equipmentNot measured

Unmeasured territory

No benchmark in this atlas covers this work yet.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings.
  • Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
  • Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
  • Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
  • Prepare mud reports, and instruct crews about the handling of any chemical additives.
  • Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices.
  • Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.
  • Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them.
  • Repair pumps, mud tanks, and related equipment.
  • Steady pipes during connection to or disconnection from drill or casing strings.
  • Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud, using portable mixers.
  • Guide lengths of pipe into and out of elevators.
Other job titles for this occupation (14)

Derrick Hand · Derrick Man · Derrick Operator · Derrick Worker · Derrickhand · Derrickman · Floor Hand · Rig Hand · Roughneck · Fracturing Derrick Operator · Gas Derrick Operator · Oil Derrick Operator · Rotary Derrick Operator · Well Service Derrick Worker