Why shouldn't you become an engineer? My story…

Many people dream about working on oil and gas platforms, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a schedule of 14 days on and 14 days off. But is it all as rosy as it seems?

In this article we'll explore what really lies behind the petroleum engineer salary in the oil industry. We'll discuss the actual working conditions, risks, and challenges faced by engineers on oil platforms and why it might not be the best career choice.

Is it really possible to earn $10,000 or more per month in the oil industry, and why are salaries higher compared to other industries? First of all, yes, you can earn $10,000, $20,000, or even $30,000 a month, especially if you work on offshore platforms, jack-up rigs, or FPSOs. The highest pay rates are offshore, so the average salary is usually higher than onshore, but such working conditions are not suitable for everyone.



Unfortunately, to earn such money, you mostly need to have a bachelor's or master's, and over 10 years of experience. I'm not currently considering citizens of the United States, Canada, or Australia, where the situation is different, and citizens of these countries can indeed earn more with less experience, including entry level petroleum professions.

The high salary is what draws most people to the oil industry, but many are unaware of the difficulties and extreme working conditions they'll face after graduating. Oil, gas, high pressure, falling objects, falls from height, hydrogen sulfide — these are just a few of the hazards you'll suffer in the oil and gas industry. When you immerse yourself in this environment, you realize that even $10,000 or $20,000 a month for a job where you risk your life daily might not be worth it.

Working offshore carries even more risks than onshore. For example, in the event of an incident on the platform, there's nowhere to run. The working conditions and challenges can be extensive — cramped spaces, everything located close together on several floors, living in small rooms often without windows, and sometimes with several people. Spending a month at sea surrounded by nothing but water may seem cool, but it is one thing to be on holiday at the beach and quite another to work a month without seeing the land. It's mentally very tough, and not everyone can handle it, not to mention seasickness.

Of course, there's no need to compete with sailors; they're a separate class of people who love the sea.

Another challenge for those working on offshore platforms is that they typically have to travel by helicopter, requiring special training on how to behave in case the helicopter falls into the sea. Those working in cold climates face an additional challenge; they not only undergo more specialized training but also wear special suit for every helicopter trip, which is heavy and extremely uncomfortable. Because if the helicopter falls into the cold sea, you won't last long, but such a suit might give you a chance to survive…

About 10-15 years ago, working in the oil industry, especially at sea, indeed brought in significantly more money than many other industries. But I believe that in these last 15-20 years, a digital revolution happened. We've seen developments in IT, finance, green energy, artificial intelligence, space exploration, electric vehicles, social networks, etc. Nowadays, the salary of an IT specialist, a finance expert, or an engineer in electric vehicles is no less, and even more, than engineers in the oil and gas industry. Moreover, the risks of working in the oil industry are incomparable with IT or finance.

But if you believe that being an engineer is your Destiny, I'd recommend looking more into the scientific field. Honestly, I do regret myself not choosing this path earlier. However it's still not too late, and I often think about pursuing a Doctor of Science degree and continue my career in R&D centers of oil and gas companies. In this case, the risks I've talked about are mostly excluded, and the salary might even be higher than offshore workers. Most importantly, you're developing, inventing something new every day, working among intelligent people, normal working days, and the possibility of working in scientific centers around the world.

So, if you're considering the oil industry as a future high-earning opportunity, I'd seriously think it over and instead look into green energy, electric vehicles, biomedicine, finance, marketing, and agriculture. Why agriculture? Because the human population is growing every year, and people will always need to eat… All rights reserved.