Adecco Report Shows Vaca Muerta Oil Salaries Reach up to 10 Million Pesos Monthly

A new salary guide released by the consulting firm Adecco reveals that monthly gross salaries in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta oil‑and‑gas sector range from about 2.7 million to 10 million pesos, depending on the job role and company size. An instrument technician in a small firm earns between 2.7 million and 4.7 million pesos, while a project engineer in a large firm can earn up to 10 million pesos. The report attributes the high pay to strong union bargaining power, the higher cost of living in Patagonia, the demanding conditions of drilling sites, and a persistent shortage of skilled workers. Most field staff work under rotating schedules of 7 × 7 or 14 × 14 days, which adds additional compensation. Compared with other Argentine regions, salaries in Patagonia are 56‑71% higher than in the NEA/NOA for small‑to‑medium firms and up to 127% higher for large firms. The industry is projected to need an additional 30,000‑43,000 direct jobs by 2030, creating a long‑term labour bottleneck.