How to hire derrick operators, oil and gas
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid. • Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions. • Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered. • Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly. • Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices. • Prepare mud reports, and instruct crews about the handling of any chemical additives. • Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings. • Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: No formal educational credential] • Strong critical thinking, monitoring, speaking and active listening skills • Working knowledge of mechanical • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $28.18 an hour ($58,620 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for derrick operators, oil and gas
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What derrick operators, oil and gas do
- Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
- Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.
- Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
- Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
- Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices.
- Prepare mud reports, and instruct crews about the handling of any chemical additives.
- Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings.
- Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for derrick operators, oil and gas
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +1.6% over ten years, little or no change · about 900 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay derrick operators, oil and gas
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $86,980 |
| New Mexico | $59,570 |
| Oklahoma | $58,270 |
| Texas | $56,100 |
See derrick operators, oil and gas pay in every state
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Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.