Supervises the crews and operations of an oil and gas drilling rig, making sure the well is drilled safely and to plan. BLS does not publish separate figures for first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers; it counts them within first-line supervisor of construction trades and extraction workers (SOC 47-1011), whose median pay is $79,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-1011
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Toolpusher in four numbers
- Median pay
- $79,920a year, or $38.42/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $53KTop 10% $128K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 67,000913,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025913.3K
- Projected 2035959.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 913.3K Projected 2035 959.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school22%
- High school20.8%
- Certificate27%
- Some college7.8%
- Associate's11.9%
- Bachelor's10.5%
Highest education held by first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers Segment Value Less than high school 22% High school 20.8% Certificate 27% Some college 7.8% Associate's 11.9% Bachelor's 10.5%
Also advertised as: Tool Pusher, Rig Manager, Senior Toolpusher, Night Toolpusher, Drilling Rig Superintendent.
Pay
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers make?
Every toolpusher in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$79,920
Middle half earn $63,400 to $101,460
- 10th
- $53,280
- 25th
- $63,400
- 75th
- $101,460
- 90th
- $128,260
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $53,280 |
| 25th | $63,400 |
| Median | $79,920 |
| 75th | $101,460 |
| 90th | $128,260 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $79,920
- Median hourly wage
- $38.42/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $86,450
- People employed
- 812,210
Versus all US occupations
At $79,920, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn 57% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $28,940 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 33% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $128,260 or more while the bottom 10% earn $53,280, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 59% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($109,570), but once local prices are taken into account Illinois leads at $105,794 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $109,570 | $102,389 | 19,550 |
| 2Illinois | $105,750 | $105,794 | 19,340 |
| 3New Jersey | $105,510 | $96,972 | 16,230 |
| 4Oregon | $103,070 | $99,718 | 7,890 |
| 5Hawaii | $102,630 | $93,342 | 2,890 |
| 6Alaska | $102,140 | $99,786 | 2,690 |
| 7Rhode Island | $98,590 | $96,392 | 2,060 |
| 8Massachusetts | $97,850 | $92,523 | 18,330 |
| 9California | $97,680 | $88,223 | 71,750 |
| 10Minnesota | $97,610 | $98,975 | 13,580 |
Job outlook
Is Toolpusher a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | +5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers to change 5.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 46,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 67,000 openings are projected each year, 7.3% of the 913,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Toolpusher
Toolpushers almost always work their way up from the rig floor, starting as floorhands or roughnecks and advancing through derrickhand and driller positions over many years. A high school diploma is typical, and some have degrees in petroleum technology.
Well control certification is essential. The International Association of Drilling Contractors' WellSharp program offers a supervisor level designed for toolpushers, which builds on driller-level training with well kill and risk management topics and requires simulator assessment. Offshore toolpushers also need offshore safety and survival training, and leadership and planning skills determine who advances to rig manager.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers.
- Post-Secondary Certificate27%
- Less than a High School Diploma22%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)20.8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree11.9%
- Bachelor's Degree10.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 27% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 22% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 20.8% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 11.9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 10.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Toolpusher do?
The toolpusher is the drilling contractor's senior supervisor on a rig. They manage the drillers, derrickhands, floorhands, motormen and other crew members, schedule work across shifts, and make sure the rig is drilling efficiently and safely according to the well plan.
Toolpushers coordinate with the operator's company representative, order equipment and supplies, oversee rig moves, and handle maintenance planning. They are central to well control: if a kick occurs, the toolpusher leads the response with the driller. They also run safety meetings, investigate incidents, keep daily drilling reports and manage the crew's training and performance.
Day-to-day tasks
- Supervise drilling crews across shifts
- Plan rig operations with the operator's company representative
- Lead well control responses alongside the driller
- Run safety meetings and enforce safe work practices
- Order equipment, parts and supplies for the rig
- Oversee rig moves and rig-up operations
- Keep daily drilling reports and crew records
- Investigate incidents and near misses
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Toolpushers live on or near the rig on rotation, commonly two weeks on and two weeks off, on land rigs in remote areas or offshore. They are on call around the clock while on hitch. The job combines office work in the rig's doghouse with time on the drill floor in all weather.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Learning Strategies3.1
- Writing3.0
- Active Learning3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.9
- Management of Personnel Resources3.6
- Time Management3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Persuasion3.0
- Negotiation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Development environment software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Toolpusher?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ERC) built on O*NET's First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Toolpusher |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.0
- Conventional5.0
- Realistic4.9
- Social2.9
- Investigative1.9
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Toolpusher
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
$79,920median a year
Most earn $53K to $128K
+5.0%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
First-Line Supervisor of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
$79,860median a year
Most earn $50K to $127K
+4.1%High school - Production
First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers
$74,450median a year
Most earn $47K to $109K
+1.8%High school - Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
$58,430median a year
Most earn $41K to $86K
+4.0%High school - Construction and Extraction
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
First-Line Supervisor of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$59,320median a year
Most earn $39K to $92K
+3.8%High school
- First-Line Supervisor of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand · $62,840 median
- First-Line Supervisor of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators · $62,840 median
- First-Line Supervisor of Passenger Attendants · $62,840 median
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers highlighted
- Toolpusher$79,920
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Toolpusher | $79,920 |
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Toolpusher appears on
Questions
Toolpusher: frequently asked questions
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers. It counts them within first-line supervisor of construction trades and extraction workers, whose median pay is $79,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $63,400 and $101,460, and the top 10% earn $128,260 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Toolpusher?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 27.0% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Toolpusher a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 67,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Toolpusher do?
The toolpusher is the drilling contractor's senior supervisor on a rig. A typical task: supervise drilling crews across shifts. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Document management software.
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers the most?
The highest state medians for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers are Washington ($109,570), Illinois ($105,750), New Jersey ($105,510) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Illinois moves to the top at $105,794.
What personality type suits a Toolpusher?
O*NET scores First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.