Career comparison
Extraction Helper vs. Roustabout
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Extraction helpers earn more at the median ($47,730 vs. $46,960), while roustabouts usually get to work faster (1–3 months of training). Extraction helpers assist miners, drillers and crews in mines and oil fields. Roustabouts build, maintain and repair oil and gas sites and equipment.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Extraction Helper | Roustabout | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $47,730 ($22.95/hr) | $46,960 ($22.58/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,960 – $68,020 | $36,420 – $64,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.7% (slower than average) | +3.6% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 700 | 4,100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | Weeks to months on the job | 1–3 months |
| Key credential | MSHA training | SafeLand USA |
| Work setting | Helpers work outdoors at mines, quarries and oil fields.. | Roustabouts work outdoors at well sites, tank batteries and yards, often in remote areas and harsh weather.. |
What each job does
Extraction Helper
- Carry tools and supplies
- Clean equipment
- Help set up drills
- Move pipe
- Clean sites
Roustabout
- Assemble and repair oilfield equipment
- Lay and repair pipelines
- Dig and backfill trenches
- Clean tanks and equipment
- Load and unload materials
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, working outdoors, and teamwork. Both are part of the energy & utilities field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose extraction helper if…
- I want to start in energy
- I’m strong
- I like outdoor work
Choose roustabout if…
- I want to start without experience
- I don’t mind hard physical work
- I like working outdoors
Still torn? Take the Extraction Helper fit quiz and the Roustabout fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, extraction helper or roustabout?
Extraction Helpers earn more at the median: $47,730 versus $46,960 for roustabouts, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Roustabouts typically train faster (1–3 months) than extraction helpers (Weeks to months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects roustabouts to grow +3.6% from 2025–35, compared with +1.7% for extraction helpers.