I can tell you this...... A decision like you are tryin to make is a huge one. I think we would both agree. Most of us have been there, and it is a huge responsibility to have to make. Especially since it looks like you are trying to start a family. I strongly encourage you to turn it over to God and pray for guidance. The Bible says he wants us to be happy. And for us to prosper. But unless you include Him in your decisions, ultimately allowing Him to decide for you, you will never find happiness. I am living proof of everything I have just stated. If you need someone to kinda explain more, pm me. Not a preacher, just a dirty ol coal miner that could not love his life more. Good luck.

etexdriller makes a good point, have you thought about working offshore on a rotation? With your coiled tubing and general oilfield experiance, im pretty sure you could get a Floorhand job.

Sound advice!

There are no short cuts to an "office" job in the oilfield. Took me 9 years of the field to start working in the office. It took me two years of the field to get three days off a month. Been out of the "field" for over 25 years now and get paid to take people fishing now. I say stick with the oil field and work your way into a better life.

Looking back, the field job I had (mud engineer) was the best job I have ever had. Relatively no pressure at all compared to the "office" job.

My two cents says you will miss the money and come back. Good luck either way.

I'm 25 and have a degree and don't make 50-60k. Why not save up some of that oil field money as capital to start your own business. Try coffins or tires. Everyone's going to need one or the other at some point! Seriously though, make your own hours and salary. Find a product or service that people want need or desire and charge less than the competition.

Make your money now while your young plenty of time to move on later. Get it while it's good b/c the oil business is good when it's good but when it's bad it's bad. Put a nest egg up so when you do start to look you won't be in a bind good luck.

I am in the O&G field also and the same age as you, with your experience I would look at the different companies and get a hold of their recruiters and look for opportunities that have a set rotation, I know many offshore jobs are 3 weeks on 3 weeks off and land based operations are 14 on 7 off or 6 on 3 off. I fairly confident with your experience you could get in somewhere with a set rotation and still make dang good $, I say stick with it till you find a better gig in the field

Trying to get out of the oilfield and into a job in another business making 50k is goin to be tough.

I'm thankful for the oil and gas industry..I'm a lease operator and get overtime when I want it..I dropped out of college and will probably never find another job where I can make the money I do now. I ran a pump truck for years and understand your frustration but there are other good jobs in your field that will let you be home every evening and make good money..

Hey man it gets better I'm 29 and have been doing wellhead and frac equipment since 2006 I'm not as busy as you coiled tubing guys! But do know what you are going through with the on call stuff and it does suck but think of it this way you are 24 and making some good money! Save it up and then try to go back to school or look for something other than coiled tubing, the drilling side is actaully the best choice! Where else can you work six months out of the year and possibly make 60-80k a year? Stick with it man I promise it will get better

It just takes time man, I've never had a "normal" job but I've always made good money. Now at 33, I still have no social life but there is light at the end of the tunnel and I'm lined up to get my monday through friday 80+ a year job.

Sure the waiting and working constantly sucks but still, there are a LOT of people who would step on their own mother to make 60+ a year right now on experience alone regardless of the crappy hours we work. It will get better. I tried to leave, made it 6-7 months at another job and came right back. The ever present conundrum is do I work so much I have plenty of money and no time to spend it or do I get an cush job with plenty of time but not enough money to do anything with.

I'm at the point now, I sometimes consider selling everything I own toy wise, living like a pauper for the next 17 years and then retiring at 50 with a nice fat bank acct and just doing what I want. Everyone has to make their own decisions but hopping into another job with this income is hard unless you have a degree in whatever it is you're looking at. Hell I spent 12 years flying in and working on aircraft and teaching aviation maintenance and I've got so many qualifications for that it's not even funny (expired now but still)and no matter what the commercials on the radio say, it doesn't pay like this.

Yup, there is a light at the end of the tunnel if you work at it for long enough!!

I remember the first time i heard the term "mud engineer" I was really confused, engineering MUD?? LOL

I've been with MI-Swaco for about 12 years now, best thing i ever did was get out of pipeline and go over to the drilling side of the industry.

I did fluids for a bit a while ago but i've been with Pressure Control for a while now, mainly MPD and UBD operations.

If I could go back and be 24 yrs old again I would try like hell to get into the Fire Department. Hours are great, pay and benefits are great, and most of the people in fire are "like minded". Plus they have time for school or start another business or fish several times a week.

Outside sales is where its at. Network with people who have good sales jobs and get your series 6/7, insurance, real estate, etc.. licenses and get into something that works for you and make some real money basically setting your own schedule. You dont need a college degree just a good personality, like other people, and good communication skills. Why in the world would you work 100 hours a week busting you a$$ making $60k when you can work 3 or four days a week, never break a sweat, and make $200k?

I forgot to mention that I'm a retired pilot and now I have one of those outside sales jobs. Money is great but knowing what I know now I would still go back and get into fire......quality of life is second to none!

This is the best advice that I have ever read on the TFF! I have worked in the drilling industry, production maintenance and the Fire Dept. I have always tried to have this approach when making life changing decisions and at 33 I am now a stay at home Dad. Not really where I pictured myself being just 5 years ago but I feel it is where I was led to be. God will provide the right doors for you, but its up to you to recognize them and take action. Sometimes our plans in life aren't exactly what he has planned for us.

Good luck in your search!