A study of the rotational (fly-in/fly-out) labor market for the first eight months of 2026 shows an unexpected shift. The highest average rates are still paid to drillers, at nearly RUB 250,000 per rotation. However, the fastest salary growth was shown by engineering specialties: mechanical engineers are now being offered 53% more than a year earlier.
Drillers top the ranking with an average offer of nearly RUB 250,000 per rotation. Over the year, their rates rose 19%. They are followed by mechanical engineers earning just over RUB 244,000, and this is where the sharpest jump was recorded: up 53%. In third place are process engineers: RUB 239,000, up 45%.
Crane operators and electric gas welders also made the top five. The former are offered an average of RUB 227,971, 14% above last year’s level. The latter are offered RUB 227,165, up 28%.
Roman Gubanov, development director at Avito Rabota, links the leadership in earnings to the nature of the work: the highest rates remain with those engaged in extraction, servicing of industrial equipment, and complex technological processes. He stresses, however, that the figures given are averages from job postings, not guaranteed income.
In practice, pay depends on many factors. These include region, experience and qualifications, work schedule, rotation length (15/15, 30/30, 45/45, and others), bonuses, and the conditions at a particular enterprise.
The rotational labor market remains one of the most lucrative for technical specialists. But the main signal of 2026 is not the absolute amounts but the dynamics: employers are raising rates for engineers most actively, which points to a shortage of qualified personnel in industry.
Source: RIA Novosti
Image: Yulia Chudinova / Yamal-Media
