What is per diem in oilfield work, and does every job offer it?

Per diem is a daily allowance an employer pays to cover food, lodging, or travel costs when a job requires working away from your home area — common for project-based or traveling oilfield roles, less relevant for a fixed local position. It is not a universal benefit: whether a specific job offers per diem, and how much, is entirely up to that employer and the nature of the assignment. Traveling completions or construction crews are more likely to see it than a locally-based lease operator role, for example. Per diem is also not guaranteed income — it's meant to offset real away-from-home costs, and tax treatment can differ from regular wages. If a posting mentions per diem, confirm the amount and what it's meant to cover before assuming it adds up to extra take-home pay.