- Salary statistics
- Oil drill
Oil drill
41 900 - 47 200 kr / month
Bygg & anläggning
Salary progression Oil drill
What does an oil driller do? – Tasks and work environment
An oil driller works on drilling for oil, gas, or water deep underground, often commissioned by energy companies or specialized contracting firms. Tasks include handling drilling rigs, monitoring the drilling process, performing equipment maintenance, and following strict safety procedures. The oil driller collaborates with geologists and technicians to ensure efficient and planned drilling. The work environment can be challenging, often outdoors in varying weather conditions, sometimes during long shifts and in remote locations, such as offshore platforms or rural areas.
Salary development over time
The salary for oil drillers has increased markedly in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 40,399 SEK per month, which slightly increased to 40 728 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary has risen sharply to 47 200 SEK per month, corresponding to an increase of about 16 % from the previous year. This salary development can be explained by the high demand for skilled workers in the energy sector, as well as the often tough working conditions that make employers compete for experienced personnel. The general shortage of specialists in well drilling and oil drilling has also contributed to rising wages.
Oil driller salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 47 200 SEK/month
- Lowest/Highest salary: Exact figures are unavailable but the average is 47 200 SEK
- Hourly wage: 284 SEK/hour
- Gender differences: Men earn 47 400 SEK; data for women is missing
- Regional differences: Specific data is unavailable
Education and qualifications
To work as an oil driller, a vocational education in drilling or construction and civil engineering is typically required, supplemented with specialized courses in safety and machinery operation. Practical experience is highly valuable, and many employers offer internal trainee programs or internships. Formal certifications in health and safety are often mandatory, especially for work on offshore platforms or international projects.
- Vocational education: Construction and civil engineering program, 3 years
- Certifications: Safety training and machinery operator certificates
- Internships/Trainee programs: Commonly provided by employers
- Prerequisites: Good physical health and technical understanding
- Tips: Extra courses in work environment and drilling technology increase chances
The oil drilling profession often offers international opportunities, as Swedish specialists are in demand abroad as well. For those willing to travel and work in shifts, doors can open to projects worldwide.
Common benefits and compensations
Oil drillers often receive allowances for unsocial hours, overtime pay, per diems for work in remote locations, as well as insurance, and sometimes housing or travel allowances for longer assignments.
Competition and challenges
The job market for oil drillers is influenced by global energy trends and infrastructure investments. Competition for positions can be tough, especially during economic downturns or reduced demand for fossil fuels. The profession requires good physical health, technical knowledge, and the ability to work in teams under pressure. Safety standards are high, and the work environment can be demanding and risky. Limited data makes it difficult to precisely assess future recruitment needs, but the shortage of qualified oil drillers keeps the profession attractive for suitable candidates.
Tips for aspiring oil drillers
To succeed as an oil driller, being meticulous and resilient to stress is important, as the work demands high attention to safety and details. A technically curious person who can quickly learn to operate new machinery has an advantage, especially as tasks vary. Being cooperative and communicative facilitates teamwork, where quick decisions often need to be made collectively. Flexibility is key, as shifts can be long and locations remote. Physical endurance and good fitness are crucial to handle the work environment. Finally, initiative and responsibility are valued by employers, especially when safety is paramount.
Key facts about oil drillers
- Educational level: Vocational training or equivalent experience
- Work environment: Field-based, often outdoors and in shifts
- Job opportunities: 379 open positions within the profession
- Special skills: Drilling technology and safety regulations
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years of experience, an oil driller can advance to supervisory roles such as foreman or site manager within drilling. There are also opportunities to specialize in areas like geotechnical drilling, international projects, or training new drillers. According to the Employment Service, no precise assessment of future job prospects can be made due to limited statistical data, but demand for qualified well drillers and oil drillers remains, especially in large infrastructure projects and the energy sector. The profession also offers opportunities to work abroad for those seeking further development.
Frequently asked questions about oil drillers
- What is the average salary of an oil driller?
- The average salary for an oil driller is 47 200 SEK per month. - How has the salary development for oil drillers been?
- Salaries have risen sharply in recent years, with an increase of about 16 % from 2023 to 2024. - What education is required to become an oil driller?
- A vocational education in construction and civil engineering, supplemented with internships and certifications, is recommended. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Data is available only for men, who earn 47 400 SEK, while data for women is missing. - What is the work environment like for oil drillers?
- The work environment is often outdoors, sometimes in remote locations and in shifts, with high safety standards. - What benefits are common for oil drillers?
- Common benefits include overtime allowances, shift pay, per diems, and insurance. - What are the future prospects for oil drillers?
- No precise forecasts, but there are 379 job openings within the profession.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 41900 kr | 47200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 41900 kr | 47200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 41900 kr | 47200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 42200 kr | 47400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 42200 kr | 47400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 42200 kr | 47400 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Oil drill has the SSYK code 8113, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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