How much does a Landman in Texas really make and how does it compare to the TV show?

Taylor Sheridan Landman examines the lifestyle of a Texas rancher with great attention to detail, with his salary being an important aspect of the series. As with Taylor Sheridan’s other TV shows, whether yellow stone or King of Tulsa, Landman examines an aspect of American life with authenticityasking questions about the moral implications of what is at issue. Billy Bob Thornton leads Landman’s cast as Tommy Morris, a crisis management executive who deals with tragic situations like the deaths of his employees.

In Landman episode 1, an explosion due to faulty equipment on a rig results in the deaths of three bullies. Landman’s The end of episode 2 finds Tommy debating the situation with Rebecca Savage, an out-of-town lawyer who believes the tragedy is his fault, as her company is responsible for keeping the equipment up to date. Tommy claims that the salary justifies the risks they take on a daily basis, which Rebecca disagrees with. This debate and opposing theses are vital to the series.

How Much Do Land and Oil Rig Workers Make on the TV Show Landman

Tommy Claims Oil Rig Workers Are Bringing Home $180,000 Annually

To specify, a “landowner” would technically refer to a person who works for an oil company that works with landowners to utilize their properties. This is part of Tommy Morris’ work, so it seems like they just used this as the title for the series. As for how much Tommy earns, it’s unclear. He is $500,000 in debt, which speaks to the lifestyle he leads. Presumably, if he is in a position where he speaks directly to the CEO of an oil company and risks his life in a meeting with the cartel, one can assume he makes seven figures, but that is just speculation.

Oil rig workers are another story. When debating with Rebecca, Tommy states that the men who died earned $180,000 a year. That’s a lot of money, especially for rural Texas, but Tommy also claimed that one or more were ex-criminals, so it’s possible they also had substantial debts. Importantly, these characters seemed to have special knowledge about their industry, as Tommy handpicked them to train his son. This would imply that they are earning at the high end of their industry.

What is the average salary for a land and oil rig worker in Texas?

Oil rig workers average much lower than Landman’s claims

According to Talent.comthe average Texas homesteader earns about $130,000 per year. But then again, that’s just part of Tommy’s job, and he probably makes more than the oil workers at his company. His exact role in the series has not been stated, so it is difficult to determine exactly how much the real-life equivalent of Tommy Morris would earn. An oil rig worker’s salary is much easier to find. There are somewhat conflicting results, but Glass door suggests that a bully can earn between $60 and $112 thousand per year.

With that said, Landman’s The $180,000 number is probably an exaggeration unless the men portrayed in episode 1 were in some sort of managerial position. It certainly seems common for an oil rig worker to earn a six-figure salary, but the salary probably isn’t as generous as Tommy made it out to be. The hours of work are extensive, which makes the annual total more substantial than the hourly wage, which may not be as high.

How accurate is Landman?

It’s a drama rooted in realism

As is the case with any Taylor Sheridan show, Landman It is certainly a series that strives for precision. Landman is not based on a true story, or at least not one in particular, but is based on a podcast called Growing city which examined different lifestyles created by the Texas oil boom in the 21st century. Christian Wallace, who co-created Landman with Sheridan, features all twelve episodes where he delves into true stories about oil rig workers, landowners, and sex workers, exploring how oil changes the local ecosystem of a Texas town. With him co-creating the show, there’s bound to be a level of candor.

However, while Landman may be rooted in some factual basis, it’s still a Taylor Sheridan show. Sheridan is fantastic at writing naturalistic dialogue and establishing the feel of what it would be like to work in an oil patch or on a cattle ranch, but his shows still included highly dramatized elements. For example, Landman begins with Thornton’s character being held hostage by the cartel with a bag over his head. It’s certainly possible that the oil owners would have to make deals with the cartel, but the idea of ​​him coming out with cunning words and threats is a television spectacle.

Sources: Talent.com, Glass door