Drastic Career Moves (Specifically Into the Oilfield)

[SMKR]

See... 1980's. The O&G is a boom and bust business. Entire towns disappear almost overnight.

If you take one of these jobs, be prepared to follow the fields (N. Dakota, Pennsylvania, Alaska, UAE, Saudi, etc.) or be prepared to get another job at some point. Save up most of your money in anticipation of the next bust. Be prepared to have some health issues (if you roughneck).

My father in law has worked for Halliburton for a LONG time. Missing flesh and hearing is quite common among his peers.

I'd add south Texas to that list, the massive super yards the big 5 are building and hiring for down here are unreal.

[staticx]

Man that sounds like some a good money you can make, if I didn't have a family I would like to spend time with after work I might have jumped on this.

[fordracing19]

Well I went from a district manager position in retail grocery to now operating a blender on a frac crew within a year. So talk about 180 change LOL.

A blender tender. Lol

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[TexasT]

Been there, made the money, moved along. Rig hand, worm, watchin' the shale shaker, painting everything. No thanks. Look into wireline. I've worked open and cased hole. dangerous, isn't everything? Plenty of money to be made. Use it wisely.

Way to much travel and the cyclical nature was too much for me and my family. I lost my last one last year in January when they wanted my to go to North Dakota. I declined and was shown the door. I was thinking, "doesn't it snow there?", not for me.

Money was nice. I made 18k less last year than the year before and it hurts, but not as much as not seeing my children.

[KBScobravert]

I took an huge plunge in pay when I moved back from 5plus years of contract work in Afghanistan. It was/is scary as hell looking at the last 3 paychecks. If the next ones don't get better I may be looking to get into the O&G field myself. Traveling, long days and being away from the homestead/family I can do.......if the money is right.

[no4njnk]

If you are a hand the pay is ok until you get to overtime, 100+ hour work week is where the money is at. You are dispensable and when the market takes a crap again you are SOL.

[stinginstang]

What kind of work does she do?



.

accountant - been there 15 years

[Trip McNeely]

I was a service tech for a wellhead company in '06 in the Barnett(North Texas) Good position to get my foot in the door. Lots of work 80+ hours/week, working under rigs. Now I work in Area sales. Techs and roughnecks work hard, but earn their money. Gotta start somewhere and work your way up. They are hiring like mad up here in PA, and in North Dakota. The oilfield isn't for everyone though. Its rough work, and turn around is high especially up here in Union country. Right now ND and PA are the best places, everywhere else is suffering because of low natural gas prices, unless you are in a wet gas or oil formation. Drilling will always be up and down as far as economy, but production and midstream will always be around. If you think you can be independent you could always freelance hotshot, or welding but competition is rough since the area is saturated by everyone trying to get a piece.

[Cannon88]

I went from being a graphic designer for 8+ years with one company to working in the oil/gas field as an MWD. I am in the office now for the same company. Glad I made the switch. It was a BIG change though.

[SMKR]

A blender tender. Lol

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Yep next stop data van.

[fordracing19]

Yep next stop data van.

Blender is a good spot. I've been in most the spots. Do they run the pumps from the tmv?

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[onemeangixxer7502]

that's a hard way to pull six figures!

if you are a hand the pay is ok until you get to overtime, 100+ hour work week is where the money is at. You are dispensable and when the market takes a crap again you are sol.

fuck that....

[Jimbo]

I'm currently talking to someone in O&G about this now. Subscribing.

[71chevellejohn]

Halliburton Etech offered me a job when I was out fixing their shit for them. He said it's a lot of standing around then a brief flurry of work then back to standing around... then lots of driving/riding around.

I passed on it... not enough of a increase for me to justify their schedule.

[Taylor]

I went from construction and traveling all over the country to working for a local financial company 9-5. Was weird but definitely worth it... so far! Pay is pretty damned good, finally getting some really good checks and just got my first quarterly bonus so life is good. This is just an entry level position and am already making moves to be in a much higher paying position within 9 months. Also nice having full health insurance, dental and vision taken care of by the company, not to mention the 401k matching and profit sharing. Fringe benefits are fucking amazing also.

My advice would be do it.