Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas: average pay and jobs in the UK
Full-time employees in extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas earned a median £83,197 in the year to 5 April 2025 (ONS ASHE), £44,158 more than across all industries.
£83,197*
£1,521.90*
£40.28*
£86,633*
£1,545.00*
12,000
150
What the figures show
No division has a higher full-time median.
The median rose 12.3% from £74,068 in 2021.
The Business Register and Employment Survey counts 12,000 people working in it in Great Britain in 2024, down 8% since 2019; 75% are in Scotland.
There were 150 business sites in March 2026, 15 of them employing 250 or more (UK Business Counts).
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th percentile | – | – | – | – | £1,192.20* | £33.69* |
| 25th percentile | – | £1,355.20 | £34.87* | – | £1,330.60* | £35.26* |
| 30th percentile | – | £1,404.50 | £36.72 | £66,258* | £1,395.10 | £37.96 |
| 40th percentile | £71,330* | £1,442.30 | £39.22 | £71,454* | £1,444.50 | £39.26 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £83,197* | £1,521.90* | £40.28* | £86,633* | £1,510.30 | £40.29* |
| 60th percentile | – | £1,634.10* | £42.61* | – | £1,639.90* | £43.29* |
| Mean | £96,771* | £1,819.20 | £47.76 | £93,871* | £1,785.30 | £49.59 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £74,068 | £1,198.70 | £31.76 | £65,528 | – | – |
| 2022 revised | – | £1,627.00* | £42.59* | – | £1,587.60* | – |
| 2023 revised | £85,881 | – | £40.19 | – | £1,516.30* | – |
| 2024 revised | £78,306 | – | – | £78,946 | £1,502.00* | – |
| 2025 provisional | £83,197* | £1,521.90* | £40.28* | £86,633* | £1,510.30 | 7* |
Where the 12,000 jobs are, 2024
| Region or nation | Employees | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 9,000 | 9,000 |
| London | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| East of England | 600 | 600 |
| South East | 400 | 400 |
| North East | 300 | 300 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 175 | 175 |
| North West | 150 | 150 |
| South West | 150 | 150 |
| East Midlands | 125 | 125 |
| Wales | 50 | 50 |
| West Midlands | 5 | 5 |
| Great Britain | 12,000 | 12,000 |
150 business sites by size
| Staff | Sites, March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Micro (0 to 9) | 85 |
| Small (10 to 49) | 25 |
| Medium (50 to 249) | 25 |
| Large (250 or more) | 15 |
| Total | 150 |
2021: 190; 2022: 170; 2023: 160; 2024: 150; 2025: 145; 2026: 150.
Related
Mining and quarrying · Mining of coal and lignite · Mining of metal ores · UK average weekly earnings growth
ASHE Table 16: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · notes · 15 October 2026