Average pay for a floorhand on an offshore oil rig?

Offshore Floorhand (drilling): typical total cash compensation clusters around $70,000–$80,000, with common day rates near $300 and hourly equivalents around $30. See experience-based bands and percentile markers below.

I. Pay Breakdown

Experience level	Hourly range	Day rate range	Annualized typical total cash
Entry (0–1 yrs offshore as floorhand)	$20.00–$27.50	$210–$270	$55,000–$72,500
Mid-Career (˜2–5 yrs)	$25.00–$32.50	$260–$330	$70,000–$92,500
Senior (5+ yrs; lead floorhand responsibilities)	$30.00–$37.50	$310–$390	$85,000–$110,000

I.1 Percentile markers (offshore floorhand)

Percentile	Annual total cash	Approx. day-rate equivalent	Approx. hourly equivalent
25th	$60,000	$240	$22.50
50th (median)	$80,000	$300	$30.00
75th	$100,000	$360	$35.00

I.2 Notes on calculations

Common hitch patterns: 14/14 or 28/28; day rates generally presume 12-hour shifts while on hitch.
Hourly to annual (14/14 with 84 hr/wk, overtime after 40): $ \text{Annual} \approx 2{,}756 \times \text{base hourly rate} $.
Day-rate to annual (14/14): $ \text{Annual} \approx 183 \times \text{day rate} + \text{bonuses/allowances} $.
Typical offshore uplifts (often included in “total cash” above): offshore/remote allowance, safety/retention bonuses, training/mobilization pay, and travel/per diem.

II. How Pay Changes

II.1 Experience — Proven time on the floor, clean safety record, and reliability move a floorhand from entry into mid-career rates; mentoring newer hands or acting as lead floorhand supports senior-band pay.
II.2 Training/certifications — BOSIET/FOET with HUET, H2S, rigging/banksman, confined space, and SafeGulf/SafeSea (region-dependent) can add a premium and accelerate progression within bands.
II.3 Added responsibilities — Being the go-to floorhand for tripping operations, shaker/pit duties, hot work permits support, or cross-training (e.g., crane assist, casing running support) tends to lift pay toward the top of each band.
II.4 Rig type and environment — Harsh-environment or ultra-deepwater units frequently pay at the high end of the band compared with benign shelf operations.
II.5 Schedule and bonus structure — Longer hitches, high-activity campaigns, and structured retention or completion bonuses push annual totals upward even when base day rate/hourly stays constant.

III. Market Drivers Affecting Pay for THIS Role

III.1 Rig count and day-rate cycle — Higher offshore rig utilization tightens labor markets, raising floorhand pay via higher base rates and bigger retention bonuses.
III.2 Regional hot spots — US Gulf of Mexico, North Sea (harsh environment), Brazil deepwater, and select Middle East jackup hubs can support the upper quartile of the ranges shown.
III.3 Talent shortages — Post-downturn attrition of experienced hands increases premiums for dependable floorhands, especially for quick mobilizations.
III.4 Bonus practices — Safety, performance, and hitch-completion bonuses can add $2,500–$10,000+ per year, materially shifting take-home in tighter markets.
III.5 Campaign intensity — Extended tripping, high well count, or simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) periods often bring temporary uplifts and more paid days, boosting annual totals.

IV. Entry Pathways

IV.1 Progression — Many start offshore as roustabouts and move to floorhand after several hitches with solid safety performance.
IV.2 Direct entry — Candidates with mechanical aptitude, marine/offshore experience, or military backgrounds may be hired straight into floorhand roles with required survival and H2S certifications.
IV.3 Certifications — BOSIET/FOET with HUET, medical clearance, and region-specific credentials (e.g., TWIC in the US) are commonly required prior to mobilization.
IV.4 Where to look — For current openings and prevailing offers, search jobs on Rigzone.

Note: Figures are specific to offshore floorhand roles and exclude onshore positions and unrelated job families.