Offshore Jobs Guide 2026: Oil and Gas, Shipping and How to Get Hired

What does it take to work offshore on an oil rig or a ship? This guide compares four main areas of offshore work, what each pays according to official data, and the training employers usually expect. It also covers how to avoid fake offshore job offers.

US pay figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for May 2025. UK figures come from the government's National Careers Service.

Rig

Rig crews handle drilling, maintenance and general labour on offshore platforms and drilling units. Entry-level roles exist, but the work is physical and the conditions are tough.

Typical roles:

• Roustabout (general labourer)
• Derrick operator (derrickhand)
• Rotary drill operator (driller)
• Service unit operator

Pay (BLS, May 2025):

• All oil and gas workers: median $24.83 an hour ($51,650 a year)
• Roustabouts: median $46,960 a year
• Derrick operators: median $58,620 a year
• Rotary drill operators: median $67,890 a year

In the UK, the National Careers Service lists offshore drilling worker salaries from £30,000 for starters to £60,000 with experience.

BLS says roustabout jobs typically do not need prior oil and gas experience and can lead to derrick or driller roles. No formal education credential is typically required.

Who it suits: physically fit people who can handle long shifts, heights and weeks away from home.

Related guide: Entry-Level Jobs in High Demand (No Degree Needed)

Ship

Ship crews work on cargo vessels, tankers, barges, supply boats and other commercial craft. Most roles need maritime credentials before you can board.

Typical roles:

• Sailor or deckhand (deck rating)
• Marine oiler (engine room rating)
• Mate or captain
• Motorboat operator

Pay (BLS, May 2025):

• All water transportation workers: median $34.55 an hour ($71,860 a year)
• Sailors and marine oilers: median $51,520 a year
• Captains, mates and pilots: median $92,460 a year

In the UK, the National Careers Service lists Merchant Navy ratings at £21,000 for starters, rising to £30,000 with experience.

Credentials to know:

• US: most jobs need a TSA Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and a US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC).
• UK: basic sea safety training (STCW) at a Maritime and Coastguard Agency-approved centre, plus a seafarer medical certificate.

Who it suits: people who want a structured maritime career and can live aboard for long stretches.

Related guide: Seasonal and Travel Work Abroad 2026

Catering

Every rig and large vessel needs people to cook, clean and keep living quarters running. Catering can be a way into offshore work for people with kitchen or hospitality experience.

Typical roles:

• Offshore or ship's cook
• Galley or catering assistant
• Steward or housekeeping crew
• Camp or accommodation attendant

Pay: BLS median for cooks overall is $17.62 an hour ($36,640 a year), May 2025. BLS does not publish a separate figure for offshore or ship cooks, so offshore pay can differ from this onshore benchmark.

BLS lists no formal education requirement for cooks, and most learn on the job. Offshore employers usually also expect the same safety training and medical certificate as other crew.

Who it suits: experienced cooks and hospitality workers who are comfortable with remote living and shared quarters.

Related guide: Cleaning and Service Jobs: Flexible Shifts, Pay and How to Apply

Engineering

Engineers design, run and maintain the equipment that keeps rigs and ships working. These roles pay the most but need degrees, certificates or years of sea time.

Typical roles:

• Petroleum engineer
• Ship engineer (marine engineer)
• Mechanical or electrical technician
• Maintenance and operations engineering technician

Pay (BLS, May 2025):

• Petroleum engineers: median $69.67 an hour ($144,910 a year)
• Ship engineers: median $109,530 a year

Petroleum engineers typically need a bachelor's degree and may travel offshore for long periods, BLS notes. Ship engineers usually need Coast Guard-approved training and years of sea time.

In the UK, Level 3 engineering apprenticeships, such as Maritime Mechanical Fitter, are listed as one route into offshore work.

Who it suits: qualified engineers and technicians, or apprentices ready for years of structured training.

Related guide: Free Job Training Programs (WIOA)

Schedules, safety training and medicals

Offshore schedules vary by employer and location. BLS says offshore rig crews may spend weeks away from home working long shifts seven days a week, followed by time off.

The UK National Careers Service describes a common pattern of 10 to 12 hour days over two weeks, followed by two weeks' leave.

For UK offshore drilling work, the National Careers Service lists these requirements:

• Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) with Emergency Breathing System (EBS)
• An offshore medical certificate
• Being over 18

OPITO, which sets the BOSIET standard, says the course covers safety induction, helicopter underwater escape, sea survival, fire safety and first aid.

How to apply safely

1. Never pay a fee for a job offer, a visa "processing" charge or a promised rig placement.
2. Be suspicious of offers that arrive without an interview or promise very high pay with no experience.
3. Book safety training directly with an approved training centre, not through a "recruiter" who demands payment.
4. Check that the company is real by searching its name with "scam" or "complaint."
5. Ignore unexpected job messages by text or WhatsApp; the FTC warns these often lead to scams.
6. Report fraud to ReportFraud.ftc.gov (US) or your national fraud reporting service.

Where to see current openings

• United States: USAJOBS, the federal government's official job site, and CareerOneStop, which the FTC lists as an official job source.
• United Kingdom: GOV.UK Find a job for England, Scotland and Wales.
• Canada: Job Bank, run by Employment and Social Development Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work offshore with no experience?

Some entry roles exist. BLS says roustabout jobs typically do not need oil and gas experience, but you will usually still need safety training and a medical before going offshore.

What is BOSIET?

BOSIET is Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training, an OPITO standard. The UK National Careers Service lists it, with an Emergency Breathing System module, as a requirement for offshore drilling work.

How long do offshore workers stay offshore?

It depends on the employer. The UK National Careers Service describes two weeks on and two weeks off as common in oil and gas, while BLS notes deep-sea ship crews may be away for weeks or months.

Do I need special documents to work on US ships?

BLS says most US water transportation jobs require a TSA TWIC card and a Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential. Many roles also need endorsements and sea time.

Jobverso is an independent information site. We are not an employer or recruitment agency and do not offer jobs. Pay figures are averages from the sources below and vary by employer and location.

Sources

• BLS OOH: Oil and Gas Workers
• BLS OOH: Water Transportation Workers
• BLS OOH: Cooks
• BLS OOH: Petroleum Engineers
• National Careers Service: Offshore drilling worker
• National Careers Service: Merchant Navy rating
• OPITO: BOSIET instructional video
• FTC: Job Scams
• FTC: Task scams create the illusion of making money
• USAJOBS
• GOV.UK Find a job
• Job Bank (Canada)

Last updated: 20 October 2026