Also called: Floorhand
Works on the drilling floor connecting and handling heavy drill pipe.
Roughnecks wrestle huge steel pipe sections into place, run tongs, and keep the rig floor working during 12-hour shifts.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. On-the-job training, usually after roustabout.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing slowly (about 0% over 10 years).
Medium risk for 10 years. Robotic pipe handlers already take over some floor work; fewer roughnecks per rig is the likely trend.
Classes: Physical education, Shop class, Welding CTE class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 47-5081.
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