Millionaires Work in This Industry. Employees Explain the Source of High Earnings
More than half of employees in Norway's oil sector earn annual incomes exceeding one million kroner. The industry remains the leader in terms of the number of such salaries.
In the oil industry, around 35,000 employees earn annual incomes exceeding one million kroner.
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Data from Statistics Norway (SSB) shows that in 2025, over 15 percent of full-time positions had a salary equivalent to at least one million kroner per year. This most often applies to the oil sector. More than half of employees exceed this threshold, which corresponds to over 35,000 positions. The increase in the number of high salaries is related to faster wage growth after the pandemic.
Everyday Work and Employee Opinions
One example is Victoria Rummelhoff, who works in the North Sea for Equinor. She belongs to the group of employees earning over one million kroner a year. As she told NRK, she works 14 days in a row, often more than 12 hours a day. She also highlights the separation from family and absence during holidays and important events.
Rummelhoff points out the public's reactions. In her opinion, many people do not see the full picture of offshore work. She mentions the risks, responsibility, and many days spent traveling. She also talks about negative opinions regarding salaries and the work environment. At the same time, she emphasizes that high earnings are part of a specific lifestyle.
Rummelhoff points out the public's reactions. In her opinion, many people do not see the full picture of offshore work. She mentions the risks, responsibility, and many days spent traveling. She also talks about negative opinions regarding salaries and the work environment. At the same time, she emphasizes that high earnings are part of a specific lifestyle.
Staff shortages mean that, to maintain the required level of installation safety, employees have to stay on platforms longer.Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland, Equinor press materials
Salary Mechanisms and the Importance of the Industry
The SAFE trade union reports that base salaries do not always exceed one million kroner per year. The final amount is influenced by bonuses and overtime. Staff shortages and problems with helicopter transport to platforms extend employees' stays. This increases the number of hours worked. Salaries are also affected by risk, including transport and chemical exposure.
The industry generates high revenues for the state. The tax on oil activities is 78 percent of profits, which means revenues of hundreds of billions of kroner. The NHO points out that over the last 10 years, wage growth in the sector has been similar to the general trend in the country. At the same time, more than 35 percent of positions in finance and the information and communication sector reach the one million kroner level annually, while in gastronomy and education it is 2.8 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively.
The industry generates high revenues for the state. The tax on oil activities is 78 percent of profits, which means revenues of hundreds of billions of kroner. The NHO points out that over the last 10 years, wage growth in the sector has been similar to the general trend in the country. At the same time, more than 35 percent of positions in finance and the information and communication sector reach the one million kroner level annually, while in gastronomy and education it is 2.8 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively.
Alongside the publication of these data, wage negotiations for offshore workers on the Norwegian shelf are beginning. The agreement is intended to ensure that wage growth remains close to the average in the economy.
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