What's the difference between a roughneck and a roustabout?

A roustabout is typically a general laborer supporting surface operations — maintenance, cleanup, equipment moving, and support tasks around a well site or facility — while a roughneck (also called a floorhand) works directly on the drilling rig floor, handling pipe and equipment under a driller and derrickhand's direction as part of the actual drilling process. Roughneck work tends to be more physically demanding and rig-floor-specific; roustabout work is broader surface-level labor that can happen across drilling, production, or service-company settings. Titles and exact duties vary by employer — some companies use "roustabout" and "roughneck" somewhat interchangeably for early-career field roles — so it's worth confirming what a specific posting actually involves rather than assuming based on title alone. Both are common, legitimate entry points into a longer oilfield career.