Roustabouts, Oil and Gas Salary
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas in Abilene, TX make a median of $45,410 a year, or about $21.83 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.36), which stretches that salary to about $50,255 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month, about 39% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Abilene?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Abilene’s Regional Price Parity (90.36). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About roustabouts, oil and gas
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What this looks like in Abilene
Roustabouts, oil and gas pay in Abilene tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,276/month, which is 39.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for roustabouts, oil and gas in metros near Abilene, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $47K | $48K |
| Midland | $47K | $49K |
| Odessa | $46K | $49K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $48K | $47K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Abilene, TX
Entry-level roustabouts, oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Roustabouts, Oil and Gas salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $61K | +29% | 430 |
| North Dakota | $60K | +29% | 2,460 |
| Montana | $59K | +25% | 200 |
| Florida | $57K | +22% | 40 |
| Nebraska | $53K | +14% | 40 |
| Indiana | $52K | +10% | 100 |
| Michigan | $52K | +10% | 290 |
| Ohio | $51K | +9% | 450 |
| South Dakota | $50K | +7% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $50K | +6% | 2,220 |
| Alabama | $49K | +5% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $49K | +5% | 420 |
| Colorado | $49K | +4% | 1,620 |
| California | $49K | +4% | 660 |
| Utah | $48K | +3% | 740 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | +1% | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | +1% | 2,730 |
| Wyoming | $47K | -1% | 1,180 |
| Illinois | $47K | -1% | 290 |
| Kansas | $46K | -2% | 570 |
| Texas | $46K | -2% | 24,430 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -4% | 120 |
| Louisiana | $45K | -4% | 3,460 |
Showing 1–10 of 23 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track roustabouts, oil and gas salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Abilene numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a roustabouts, oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in Abilene?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 39.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for roustabouts, oil and gas in Abilene?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new roustabouts, oil and gas typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,181/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 59% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is roustabouts, oil and ga a high-paying job in Abilene?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Abilene compare to the national average for roustabouts, oil and gas?
Abilene pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do roustabouts, oil and gas make in Abilene, TX?
The median is $45,410 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,350, and experienced roustabouts, oil and gas can clear $48,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Abilene?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,211/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 39.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a roustabouts, oil and gas salary go in Abilene?
Abilene has a Regional Price Parity of 90.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median roustabouts, oil and gas salary is worth about $50,255 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do roustabouts, oil and gas get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.