Pay & Salary Information

Great Rewards, Bright Future

While careers in oil and gas are known to pay very good wages, compensation naturally varies from employer to employer, province to province and job to job. Rates of pay are usually dependent on your level of experience and education.

Besides offering above average salaries, the oil and gas industry is also known to offer great benefit packages. But don't let salary alone guide your decision to join the industry. The industry provides many rewarding careers, with a bright future ahead.

Still curious? Here are a few examples of common jobs you'll find in oil and gas, average salaries and rates of pay:

• Administrative Assistant:
  Pay can range from $34,000 - $42,000 per year for a Junior/Intermediate Administrative Assistant working in the petroleum services industry.

• Control Centre Operators:
  Entry-level compensation for typical pipeline control centre operators in training will range from $60,000 to $68,000 per annum excluding overtime, shift differential and bonus if applicable.
  

• Drilling & Service Rig Operators:
  The Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) recommends minimum wage schedules for individuals working in the drilling and service rig industry. Compensation varies based on job title and experience. Drilling rig crews are paid hourly base wages, ranging from $27/hour for leasehands, to $42.20/hour for drillers. Service rig positions range from $22/hour for trainee positions, to $33/hour for operator jobs. Some companies offer subsistence allowances, overtime, shift differentials, and bonuses to workers employed in camps.
  
  
• Engineering Technology Professionals:
  Base salaries for junior technicians and technologists in the petroleum industry range from $67,990 per year for junior positions to $156,972 per year for experienced senior manager or specialist/team lead positions. Some companies offer overtime and bonuses. Salaries are also dependent on level of experience, education and level of professional designation achieved.
  
  
• Geologists and Geophysicts:
  The average salary for geoscience professionals in the oil and gas industry ranges from $51,615 to $199,700 per year for geologists, and $ 78,400 to $ 200,000 per year for geophysicists. Salaries vary and are dependent on designations received, level of experience and responsibility in the position.
  
  
• Professional Engineers:
  The average salary for professional engineers in the oil and gas industry ranges from $ 50,940 to $ 215,000 per year, which varies based on the engineering occupation, designations received, level of experience and responsibility in the position.
  
  
• Seismic Operators:
  Pay for seismic operator jobs is approximately $3,000 to $8,000 per month, depending on the role and the person's experience and skills. Seismic drilling roles are typically paid by the meter or foot drilled. Entry-level positions, such as driller's helpers, chainsaw/bucker, line crew and survey helpers start at $12.50 per hour, and wages increase with experience. Some workers are paid "turnkey rates," meaning they are paid by the day or amount of work completed. Most employers cover all accommodation costs while the employee is working and provide a daily living allowance (Hotshot) of $40.00 to cover food expenses. In situations where camps are set-up and food provided, the Hotshot allowance is not provided.

Professional & Industry Associations Wage Information

• Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors Wage Schedule
  Drilling and service rig recommended wage schedules.
• Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors HR Brochures
  HR brochures contain range of pay information and living allowances.
• Petroleum Services Association of Canada
  Listing of typical jobs in the petroleum service industry and average salaries.
• Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) Salary Survey
  Salary information based on the level of responsibility of each employee's position, data on year of graduation, if available, and information on the type of organization.
• The Association of Science & Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET)
  ASET Annual Salary Survey Report
  
  

Wages by Region

• Alberta Wage Survey
• British Columbia Wage and Salary Survey
• Fort McMurray Wages
  
• Newfoundland Pay Information - Petroleum Industry Human Resource Council
• Saskatchewan Wage Survey
  
  

Wage & Salary Databases

• Government of Canada Labour Market Information - Wages & Salaries
• Salary Expert
• Salary Wizard Canada
• Payscale Database
  
  

*This page is intended to be used as a guide for potential salaries within the industry. Pay rates vary and are at the discretion of the employer.