Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas: 43,140 jobs, median pay $58,160

43,140

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$58,160

Median pay a year

Middle half: $47,480–$73,230

3,800

Annual openings

10-year change: +1.1%

No formal educational credential

Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 42 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $49,940 · LCA filings 05,400$49,9400

Midland, TXMedian pay $49,470 · LCA filings 03,460$49,4700

Odessa, TXMedian pay $49,080 · LCA filings 01,730$49,0800

Bakersfield–Delano, CAMedian pay $62,170 · LCA filings 01,360$62,1700

Greeley, COMedian pay $51,650 · LCA filings 01,070$51,6500

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COMedian pay $66,220 · LCA filings 01,060$66,2200

Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux, LAMedian pay $62,260 · LCA filings 0950$62,2600

Oklahoma City, OKMedian pay $60,260 · LCA filings 0910$60,2600

Pittsburgh, PAMedian pay $59,520 · LCA filings 0710$59,5200

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $60,870 · LCA filings 0640$60,8700

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

Anchorage, AKEmployment 100 · LCA filings 0$95,3701000

St. Louis, MO–ILEmployment 40 · LCA filings 0$91,890400

Cheyenne, WYEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$81,590500

Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CAEmployment 280 · LCA filings 0$76,9802800

Salt Lake City–Murray, UTEmployment 90 · LCA filings 0$66,550900

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $51,334 · Level III $57,533 · Level IV $63,731$45,136$51,334$57,533$63,731

Midland, TXLevel II $48,110 · Level III $55,411 · Level IV $62,691$40,830$48,110$55,411$62,691

Odessa, TXLevel II $50,918 · Level III $56,930 · Level IV $62,920$44,928$50,918$56,930$62,920

Bakersfield–Delano, CALevel II $54,163 · Level III $63,627 · Level IV $73,091$44,699$54,163$63,627$73,091

Greeley, COLevel II $53,726 · Level III $61,589 · Level IV $69,472$45,843$53,726$61,589$69,472

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COLevel II $64,210 · Level III $77,085 · Level IV $89,939$51,355$64,210$77,085$89,939

Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux, LALevel II $54,246 · Level III $63,565 · Level IV $72,904$44,907$54,246$63,565$72,904

Oklahoma City, OKLevel II $52,832 · Level III $65,146 · Level IV $77,438$40,539$52,832$65,146$77,438

Pittsburgh, PALevel II $50,378 · Level III $56,576 · Level IV $62,774$44,179$50,378$56,576$62,774

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $55,120 · Level III $65,520 · Level IV $75,920$44,720$55,120$65,520$75,920

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT

Mining and Petroleum Technologies/TechniciansCIP 15.09STEM OPT · up to 36 months4STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas in every metro area

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Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Construction Laborers Electricians First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Carpenters Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Painters, Construction and Maintenance Construction and Building Inspectors

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology