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Field Operator (Well Logging and Testing), Hydrocarbon Data Analyst, Hydrocarbon Mud Logger, Production Testers
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
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Oil and gas well loggers and testers, and their helpers, cooperate closely with drilling and service rig crews. In general, loggers and testers:
The occupational group to which oil and gas well loggers and testers belong includes several occupations. These include hydrocarbon mud loggers, coring operators, drill stem testers, pressure testers, wireline operators, and slickline operators.
Hydrocarbon mud loggers, also called hydrocarbon data analysts, analyze mud from the well to learn about rock formations. In general, they use instruments to:
Mud logging results help determine drill bit selection and drilling rates. They may indicate a need for core sampling or drill stem testing.
Coring operators take core samples. Geologists, geophysicists, and engineers analyze the samples to provide information about subsurface geology. This helps to determine the potential productivity of a well. In general, coring operators:
Drill stem testers perform tests on the fluid in rock formations. This helps to determine the potential productivity of an oil or gas well. With assistance from their helpers, they:
Drill stem testers, who also are qualified to use equipment that pressure tests casing or tubing for leaks, may be called pressure testers.
Wireline and slickline operators lower special instruments or tools into wells on a slender, flexible, metal cable called a wireline or slickline. For more information, see the Wireline Operator and Slickline Operator occupational profiles.
Oil and gas well loggers and testers are most often on call 24 hours a day. They often work long hours. They are always under pressure to complete their work so the rig can continue its regular activity. The work environment around a rig is noisy, dirty, and hazardous. Performing their work safely is key. The work may require lifting heavy tools and equipment.
Hydrocarbon mud loggers work primarily in small, onsite laboratories during drilling operations. Coring operators, drill stem testers, wireline operators, and slickline operators work mostly outdoors. They often work in adverse weather conditions. They may work in isolated locations for long periods of time.
They must be able to lift at least 25 kilograms.
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.
To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Click or tap a personality type for its description.
Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.
To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
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.
Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers
2023 OaSIS: 83101.02
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.
To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
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 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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
Oil and gas well loggers and testers need:
They should enjoy working with equipment and machinery. They should be comfortable with clear rules and guidelines. They should like compiling information and solving problems.
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.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 100 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 04, 2021 and Oct 10, 2025.
Review these skills to learn:
| Work Site Environment: Outdoors | 70 |
|---|---|
| Construction Specialization: Dependability | 66 |
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 64 |
| Hand-eye co-ordination | 63 |
| Computer Systems: Valid driver's licence | 62 |
| Tasks: Ensure safety procedures are followed | 61 |
| Teleworking Information: On the road job | 60 |
| Attention to detail | 60 |
| Work under pressure | 60 |
| Construction Specialization: Excellent oral communication | 58 |
Most loggers and testers are trained on the job. There is no minimum education requirement, but many employers prefer high school graduates. Related courses, such as math, chemistry, geology, electronics, and mechanics are assets. Experience working on drilling or service rigs is also an asset. Loggers and testers need a valid driver’s licence. Those who operate heavy trucks must have a Class 1 or Class 3 operator’s licence with heavy truck and airbrake (Q) endorsement.
Most employers provide in-house training programs for new employees. They also provide ongoing courses, such as blowout prevention, for experienced employees. They may expect employees to become certified in:
Workers can gain technical knowledge and advance more quickly by taking courses in different aspects of drilling or service operations. Energy Safety Canada, formerly ENFORM, in Calgary and Nisku (near Edmonton), offers courses for those who work on drilling and service rigs. It is the industry’s safety association, but other organizations also offer this training.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
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.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Oil and gas well loggers and testers work for oil field service companies. Most new employees start out as helpers or junior operators. They are often hired initially as seasonal workers in winter. Opportunities to advance to more senior positions depend partly on the company. However, they also depend on the worker’s ability and potential to assume responsibility and supervise operations.
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.
Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
2016 NOC: 8232
79.0% 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.
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.
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.
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:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $17.31 | $50.50 | $32.68 | $33.65 |
| Overall | $19.98 | $59.85 | $41.84 | $47.01 |
| Top | $21.92 | $96.15 | $53.85 | $52.00 |
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
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $84,111 |
|---|---|
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $86,943 |
| Construction | $91,684 |
Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors (CAGC) website: www.cagc.ca
Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAEDC) website: caoec.ca
Canadian Well Logging Society (CWLS) website: www.cwls.org
Energy Safety Canada website: www.energysafetycanada.com
Enserva website: enserva.ca
The Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (EPAC) website: www.explorersandproducers.ca
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.
