Roustabout Salary UK 2026
A UK roustabout earns £180 to £220 a day in 2026, which is about £2,700 to £3,500 a month or £33,000 to £42,000 a year on a 2-on-2-off rotation. Food, accommodation and helicopter travel are paid, so almost all of it is disposable income.
Roustabout pay progression
| Stage | Pay | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| First trip (green hat) | £180 a day | Deck crew, slinging loads, housekeeping the deck. |
| 12 to 24 months | £200 to £220 a day | Trusted with banksman and rigging duties. |
| Promotion to roughneck | £240 to £320 a day | Drill floor work, a £10k to £16k annual jump. |
Tickets you need
- OGUK / OEUK offshore medical
- BOSIET with CA-EBS
- MIST
- Rigger / Banksman Stage 1 (strongly preferred)
What lifts your day rate
- Rigger Stage 2 or Banksman ticket, typically £15 to £25 a day
- Confined space and working at height tickets
- Willingness to take short-notice trips and cover call-outs
Who hires roustabouts in the UK
How to get paid at the top of the band
Day rates are negotiated against what a recruiter can verify in the first fifteen seconds of reading your CV. For a roustabout, that means three things:
- Put BOSIET, MIST and OGUK medical dates at the top, recruiters filter on ticket validity first
- Translate warehouse, construction or farm work into slinging, manual handling and lifting operations
- Name any yard, dock or site work with the operator or main contractor
Written by offshore specialists with 25+ years in the industry. 48-hour turnaround.
Roustabout salary questions
How much does a roustabout earn per month in the UK?
About £2,700 to £3,500 a month before tax on a standard 2-on-2-off rotation. Because food, bed and travel are covered on the installation, take-home tends to go further than an equivalent onshore wage.
Can you become a roustabout with no experience?
Yes. Roustabout is the standard entry point offshore. You need a valid OGUK medical, BOSIET with CA-EBS and MIST before anyone will interview you, but no prior offshore hours are required.
How long does it take to go from roustabout to roughneck?
Typically 12 to 24 months of solid rotations with good appraisals. That move lifts your day rate from around £200 to £240 to £320.
Compare other offshore salaries
See the full breakdown in our oil rig worker salary guide for 2026.