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Oil Rig Worker Jobs in Norfolk, VA (NOW HIRING)

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Oil Rig Worker information

See Norfolk, VA salary details

$7

$25

$45

How much do oil rig worker jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for oil rig worker in Norfolk, VA is $25.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.34 and $35.10 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an oil rig worker do?

An oil rig worker is responsible for operating and maintaining the equipment used to extract oil and gas from beneath the earth's surface, either on land or offshore. Their duties include drilling, monitoring machinery, ensuring safety protocols are followed, and performing routine maintenance. Oil rig workers often work long shifts in challenging environments and must be physically fit and safety-conscious. They play a vital role in ensuring the continuous and safe production of energy resources.

What does an oil rig worker do?

As an oil rig worker, your responsibilities involve supporting oil and gas drilling and extraction operations on an offshore oil platform. You may perform a specific job on the rig, or your duties may focus on general labor tasks. Oil rig positions such as a derrickman and driller work directly with the equipment needed to drill and extract the oil. You may also perform other tasks such as catering, cleaning, or providing medical services.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an oil rig worker, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Oil Rig Worker, you need physical stamina, basic mechanical aptitude, safety awareness, and typically a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with heavy machinery, drilling equipment, and safety certifications like H2S and Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) are highly valued. Teamwork, communication, and the ability to stay calm under pressure are essential soft skills for this demanding environment. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring safety, operational efficiency, and the successful execution of complex tasks in challenging offshore conditions.

What are some common challenges oil rig workers face during their shifts, and how are they addressed?

Oil rig workers often face challenges such as long hours, physically demanding tasks, and extended periods away from home. The work environment can be harsh, with exposure to extreme weather and the need to adhere to strict safety protocols. To address these challenges, companies typically provide comprehensive safety training, implement rotating shift schedules to manage fatigue, and offer amenities on-site to support worker well-being. Teamwork and clear communication are also emphasized to ensure efficiency and safety on the rig.

What is the difference between Oil Rig Worker vs Drilling Engineer?

AspectOil Rig WorkerDrilling Engineer
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent, safety certificationsEngineering degree, specialized drilling certifications
Work EnvironmentOffshore oil rigs, outdoor, physically demandingOnshore/offshore offices, technical and supervisory
Employer & Industry UsageOil and gas companies, drilling contractorsOil companies, engineering firms, project management

Oil Rig Workers perform hands-on tasks on offshore rigs, focusing on safety and equipment operation. Drilling Engineers plan and oversee drilling operations, requiring technical engineering skills. While both roles are essential in oil extraction, Oil Rig Workers handle physical tasks, whereas Drilling Engineers focus on planning and management.

More about Oil Rig Worker jobs

What job categories do people searching Oil Rig Worker jobs in Norfolk, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Oil Rig Worker jobs in Norfolk, VA are:

What cities near Norfolk, VA are hiring for Oil Rig Worker jobs?

Cities near Norfolk, VA with the most Oil Rig Worker job openings:

Oil Rig Worker jobs near you
Infographic showing various Oil Rig Worker job openings in Norfolk, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,478 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

Safety, Performance and Leadership Coach

CAVU International

Virginia Beach, VA • On-site

Contractor

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

Purpose and Scope


The Safety, Performance and Leadership Coach position (hereafter simply referred to as Coach) at CAVU International plays the key role in delivering our clients the world's best consulting services for high- hazard work environments where the consequences of human failure are unacceptable. The Coach is embedded on site with the client's crew to deliver the coaching and mentoring necessary to improve team behaviors and organizational culture. He/she uses the client's tools and programs to define their "Perfect Day" and focuses their team on these targets based on their organization's strengths and opportunities for improvement. The Coach then develops a deliberate approach to making the perfect day repeatable throughout their organization.


In the execution of his/her roles and responsibilities, the Coach routinely serves as the face of the Company on "hitch" (work period/event of various durations at a specific client on/off-shore rig or facility) with the customer - often with little to no supervision. As such, the position requires an extremely self- motivated individual who is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to perform the mission with excellence even in the face of long hours and austere environments.


Duties and Responsibilities


  • Assess client culture, processes, team behaviors and leadership in order to identify areas of opportunity for coaching/training focus points.
  • Provide tailored Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Continuous Improvement training in accordance with the specific client requirements and constraints.
  • Provide safety, hazard identification and risk management training.
  • Facilitate shore-based crew/leadership training and planning events, meetings, workshops and team building exercises.
  • Perform rig/facility assessment of crew/leadership performance, interaction and operational discipline.
  • Facilitate rig/facility Culture Surveys to assess the current safety climate within the organization.
  • Facilitate Leadership Round Table discussions to address management of change, risk mitigation, leadership principles and CRM topics.
  • Provide relevant feedback to platform/facility leadership on Continuous Improvement strategy.
  • Provide executive level after-action reviews/reports at client request or as regularly scheduled.
  • Demonstrate proper planning, briefing and debriefing techniques.
  • Develop training materials, presentations and reports.
  • Provide translation services as required.
  • Assist CEO, CSO, VP Operations and Marketing Manager with recommendations for Continuous Improvement of CAVU products and services.
  • Other duties as assigned by the CAVU Operations, Country Manager, Client Manager, Project Manager or Lead Coach when on a platform, facility, or other location.


Qualifications


Required Experience


  • 20 years of military service including:
  • Leadership and management responsibilities in charge of at least a platoon-size unit/department (20+ personnel)
  • Experience with high-risk environments/duties (e.g., aviation, combat training, nuclear power)
  • Bachelor's Degree


Desired Experience


  • 25+ years military service including:
  • Achieving senior officer/non-commissioned officer level rank
  • Command of a squadron-size unit or higher
  • Previous professional executive consulting/mentoring/coaching experience
  • Previous experience in the oil and gas industry - particularly on off-shore and/or land rigs
  • Master's Degree


Required Skills


  • Excellent public speaking abilities
  • Ability to interact affably, tactfully and persuasively with people at all levels from leadership to the deck plates and from diverse backgrounds/cultures
  • Working technical knowledge/aptitude with computers and audio-visual equipment
  • Exceptional Listening skills
  • Ability to win respect of and coach people at all levels of leadership
  • Exemplify outstanding leadership, teamwork & safety attributes
  • Particularly PowerPoint, Word and Excel

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