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Drilling and Service Rig Manager: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Is providing a high-demand product to consumers important to you? Do you consider safety a priority? Are you a leader who excels at communication and planning? Then you may want to dig into a career as a drilling and service rig manager.
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Occupations in Alberta
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Drilling and Service Rig Manager

Oil and gas well drilling and service rig managers supervise large crews of workers on drilling and service rigs.

Contents Expand All
Also Known As

Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Service Rig Manager, Service Rig Manager, Toolpusher

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 8222: Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

2006 NOC-S

  • I122: Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

2011 NOC

  • 8222: Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

2016 NOC

  • 8222: Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

2021 NOC

  • 82021: Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

2023 OaSIS

  • 82021.00: Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Drilling and service rig managers supervise oil and gas rig operations. They are responsible for the overall operation of the rig as well as the efficiency and safety of the rig crews on site. They act as the senior onsite representatives for rig contractors. Specific training requirements for rig management may vary between drilling rigs and service rigs.

In general, rig managers:

  • Manage the work of rig crews
  • Work directly with the oil company representative onsite
  • Ensure the entire drilling or well-servicing operation runs smoothly, safely, and efficiently
  • Ensure operations comply with company policies and government regulations
  • Coordinate the crew to drive the rig equipment to proper locations on service rigs
  • Organize the rig-in (setup) and rig-out (take-down) of equipment and rigs
  • Ensure emergency evacuation and medical procedures are posted and understood
  • Ensure workers undertake emergency drills and understand emergency plans
  • Ensure crews wear correct PPE at all times during the workday
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

Rig managers work in all types of weather. Drilling and service rigs may run year-round, although some areas experience spring break-up. Most rig activity takes place during the winter months, with summer months sometimes being slower. Spring break-up occurs mid-March to mid-June. At this time, provincial road bans prevent equipment from being moved. During this time, the oil and gas industry is slower.

Larger operations often employ 2 drilling rig managers. They split the day into 12-hour shifts. They are always on call and live at the rig site.

A rig manager who is solely in charge must be at the site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In Alberta, oil and gas wells may be in remote areas or near small communities. Most service rig crews travel daily. They usually travel in a 160-kilometre radius of the service rig contractor’s central location. Drilling rig crews move with the rig to new locations. This can mean being away from home for long periods.

Work Personalities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
E
Enterprising
This occupation
You
R
Realistic
C
Conventional
This occupation
You

To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
2023 OaSIS: 82021.00

Click or tap a personality type for its description.

  • 1
    Enterprising

    Enterprising jobs are about leading, selling, or starting new projects. People in these jobs like to take charge, make decisions, and reach goals. They often work in business or politics. These jobs may involve some risk and require strong people skills. Examples include managers, salespeople, and entrepreneurs.

  • 2
    Realistic

    Realistic jobs focus on working with your hands, tools, machines, or animals. People in these jobs often fix, build, or take care of things. They like clear tasks and working in a physical way. These jobs usually don’t need much paperwork or teamwork. Examples include mechanics, farmers, and builders.

  • 3
    Conventional

    Conventional jobs involve following rules and working with information. People in these jobs like to keep things organized and follow clear steps. They often work with numbers, files, or data. These jobs usually happen in offices and involve working with data and details more than ideas. Examples include clerks, accountants, and data entry workers.

Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.

Your Work Personalities

To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
2023 OaSIS: 82021.00

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.

The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.

The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Abilities Sets

The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.

Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.

This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Inductive Reasoning
Verbal Ability
Information Ordering
Categorization Flexibility
Deductive Reasoning
Fluency of Ideas
Problem Identification
Written Comprehension
Written Expression

Numbers and Patterns

Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.

This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Memorizing
Perceptual Speed
Pattern Organization Speed
Numerical Ability
Mathematical Reasoning
Multitasking
Pattern Identification
Spatial Orientation
Spatial Visualization
Selective Attention

Physical Activity

Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Stamina
Static Strength
Trunk Strength
Explosive Strength
Body Flexibility
Dynamic Strength
Gross Body Coordination
Gross Body Equilibrium
Multi-Limb Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Finger-Hand-Wrist Motion
Rate Control
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Control of Settings
Finger Dexterity
Manual Dexterity
Multi-Signal Response
Reaction Time
Speed of Limb Movement

Senses

Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Hearing Sensitivity
Speech Clarity
Peripheral Vision
Auditory Attention
Depth Perception
Far Vision
Glare Tolerance
Near Vision
Night Vision
Speech Recognition
Sound Localization
Colour Perception

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Rig managers need:

  • A safety-conscious attitude
  • The ability to work safely and efficiently in a fast-paced work environment
  • The ability to think ahead to the next procedure
  • Organizational skills
  • Communication skills
  • The ability to plan and direct the work of others
  • Mechanical aptitude

They should enjoy:

  • Solving problems
  • Working with tools, instruments, and machinery
  • Coordinating the work of others
  • Training and teaching people

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

2016 NOC: 8222

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 28 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 11, 2021 and May 01, 2025.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Set up machines and equipment
Tasks: Oversee safety of operations
Computer Systems: Valid driver's licence
Tasks: Supervise, co-ordinate and schedule (and possibly review) activities of workers
Tasks: Prepare and submit reports
Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : Hydrogen Sulphide Awareness (H2S) Certificate
Manufacturing Sector Experience: Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
Work Site Environment: Outdoors
Tasks: Train staff/workers in job duties, safety procedures and company policies
Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : First Aid Certificate
Tasks: Set up machines and equipment 17
Tasks: Oversee safety of operations 16
Computer Systems: Valid driver's licence 15
Tasks: Supervise, co-ordinate and schedule (and possibly review) activities of workers 14
Tasks: Prepare and submit reports 14
Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : Hydrogen Sulphide Awareness (H2S) Certificate 13
Manufacturing Sector Experience: Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers 13
Work Site Environment: Outdoors 13
Tasks: Train staff/workers in job duties, safety procedures and company policies 13
Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : First Aid Certificate 12
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Minimum Education High school diploma

Rig managers need a valid driver’s licence with air brake endorsements on service rigs. They also need the following certificates. These may be earned through in-house training:

  • Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
  • Standard First Aid and CPR (2-day course)
  • Fall Protection and Rescue for Rig Work
  • H2S Alive (specialized hydrogen sulfide training for rig crews)
  • Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
  • Waste Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS)
  • Second Line Well Control (drilling rig managers), Well Service Well Control (service rig managers), or equivalent training from the International Well Control Forum (IWCF) and International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC)
  • Special Oilfield Boilers
  • Safety Management and Regulatory Awareness for Wellsite Supervision
  • Detection and Control of Flammable Substances
  • Well Service Blowout Prevention

Energy Safety Canada provides training for those who work on drilling and service rigs. Although they are the industry’s safety association, other organizations also offer this training.

Rig managers should also know about the environmental issues related to oil and gas well drilling.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Certification Not regulated

There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Drilling and service rig managers begin as drilling and service rig personnel. A conscientious, hard-working person with leadership skills can move from rig labourer to rig manager in 8 to 10 years.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
2016 NOC: 8222

79.8% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Look for Work

Think Industries and Sectors When Planning Your Career

Jobs and occupations are changing every day. It can be hard to know what the future of work looks like—but not impossible. Look at industries and sectors for possible inspiration, insights, and opportunities.
3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
2021 NOC: 82021
Hot
Job Market
13,600
Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list
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iStock.com/filadendron
OCCinfo

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
2016 NOC: 8222
2.4%
Annual Growth
(Average)
243
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Service and drilling rigs are paid hourly. Service rigs may earn somewhat more than drilling rig managers.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

2021 NOC: 82021
Average Wage
$56.74
Per Hour
Average Salary
$117,132.00
Per Year
Average Hours
42.4
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
11.6
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 82021 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources to supplement this data.

B: Good Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $23.08 $74.52 $51.56 $50.60
Overall $28.31 $84.00 $56.74 $50.60
Top $31.73 $101.27 $62.74 $56.20

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Oil & Gas Extraction
Construction
ALL INDUSTRIES $117,132
Oil & Gas Extraction $119,004
Construction $105,818

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
36%
36%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
36%
36%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
5%
5%
Vacancy Rate
1%
Related High School Subjects
  • Science
  • Business, Administration, Finance and IT
    • Management and Marketing
  • Natural Resources
    • Primary Resources
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Trades, Industrial and Related Training
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors (CAGC) website: www.cagc.ca

Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAOEC) website: caoec.ca

Energy Safety Canada website: www.energysafetycanada.com

PetroLMI, Careers in Energy website: careersinenergy.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2024. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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