Taylor Sheridan’s Landman examines the lifestyle of a Texas landman with great attention to detail, with their salary being an important aspect of the series. Like with Taylor Sheridan’s other TV shows, be it Yellowstone or Tulsa King, Landman examines an aspect of American life with authenticity, asking questions about the moral implications of what’s at hand. Billy Bob Thornton leads Landman’s cast as Tommy Norris, 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 from a rig results in the deaths of three roughnecks. Landman’s episode 2 ending then sees Tommy debating the situation with Rebecca Savage, a lawyer from out of town who believes the tragedy to be his fault, as his company has been responsible for keeping the equipment up to date. Tommy states that their 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 Landmen & Oil Rig Workers Earn In The Landman TV Show

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

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

The oil rig workers are another story. When debating with Rebecca, Tommy states that the men who passed away were making $180,000 per year. That’s quite a lot of money, especially for rural Texas, but Tommy also stated one or more was an ex-felon, so it’s possible they had some substantial debt as well. Importantly, these characters seemed to be particularly knowledgeable about their industry, as Tommy handpicked them to train his son. That would imply they’re earning on the higher end of their industry.

What’s The Average Salary Of A Landman & Oil Rig Worker In Texas?

Oil Rig Workers Average Far Less Than Landman Claims

According to Talent.com, an average landman in Texas makes roughly $130,000 per year. But again, that’s only a part of Tommy’s job, and he likely makes more than the oil workers at his company. His exact job title in the series isn’t stated, so it’s hard to ascertain exactly how much the real-life equivalent to Tommy Norris would be making. The salary for an oil rig roughneck is much easier to find. There are somewhat conflicting results, but Glassdoor suggests that a roughneck can make between $60-$112k per year.

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

How Accurate Is Landman?

It’s A Drama Rooted In Realism

As is the case with any Taylor Sheridan show, Landman is certainly a series that strives for accuracy. Landman isn’t based on a true story, or at least not one in particular, but it’s based on a podcast called Boomtown that examined different lifestyles created by the 21st-century Texas oil boom. Christian Wallace, who co-created Landman with Sheridan, hosts all twelve episodes, where he dives into real 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 candidness.

It’s certainly possible that oil landmen would’ve had to work out deals with the cartel, but the idea of him slick-talking his way out and making threats is television spectacle.

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 feeling of what it might be like working on an oil patch or a cattle ranch, but his shows still included highly dramatized elements. For example, Landman begins with Thornton’s character held hostage by the cartel with a bag over his head. It’s certainly possible that oil landmen would’ve had to work out deals with the cartel, but the idea of him slick-talking his way out and making threats is television spectacle.

Sources: Talent.com, Glassdoor