Annual Salary
£25,000 to £60,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Engineering design or Manufacturing or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Engineering design or Manufacturing or go back to all job sectors
Offshore drilling workers extract oil and gas from under the seabed, working from platforms and rigs.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts
There will be
0.7% fewer Offshore drilling worker jobs in 2029.
As a derrickhand, you would:
As a driller, you would:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work on a rig.
Your working environment may be cramped, physically demanding, at height, outdoors in all weathers and you may spend nights away from home.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a college course in engineering or construction, which would give you some of the skills needed to start as a trainee with a drilling company.
Courses include:
You may be able to apply for a place on an an Engineering Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
You could also apply to do a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, for example:
These combine on-the-job training and time spent with a college or training provider.
You'll usually need:
You could start as a drilling labourer, roustabout or derrickhand (crane or hoist operator) on a rig, and learn on the job before becoming a drilling worker.
You can apply directly to offshore oil and gas companies if you've got experience in an industry like engineering or construction.
You'll need to:
You would work on a shift pattern and spend 2 to 3 weeks at a time on a rig, followed by onshore leave of around 2 weeks.
You can find out more about careers in the energy industry from My Energy Future.
You could work for oil and gas companies who have their own exploration and production licences, or for businesses contracted to operate and maintain drilling equipment on offshore rigs and ships.
With experience, you could be promoted from driller to tool pusher or rig manager, overseeing drilling operations.
You'll need: