A landman wears many hats in the oil and gas industry. Their main responsibility is to connect oil companies with the mineral rights they need to drill, but the way they do this involves several different roles.

Some of the most common duties include:

• Securing leases: Landmen negotiate with mineral owners to obtain lease agreements that give oil and gas companies the right to explore and drill.
• Running title: They review county records, deeds, and probate documents to determine who owns the minerals and how ownership is divided.
• Researching property history: Landmen trace the chain of title to make sure the company leases from the correct owners.
• Negotiating purchases: In some cases, landmen are involved in buying mineral rights outright instead of leasing them.
• Managing contracts: They prepare, explain, and sometimes deliver lease paperwork and other agreements.
• Serving as the company’s representative: Landmen are often the face of the oil company, meeting with landowners and answering initial questions.

Mineral owners usually encounter a landman when they receive an offer to lease.

It might be a lease to explore for oil and gas, or it might be a purchase offer for the minerals themselves. Regardless of the situation, it is important to remember that the landman’s job is to secure the best possible deal for the company, not for the owner.

From a mineral owner’s point of view, a landman often serves as the main point of contact with the oil and gas company. While their overall job is to represent the company’s interests, the way they interact with mineral owners can directly influence the decisions an owner makes. Common interactions include:

• Presenting offers: A landman may approach you with a lease agreement or a purchase offer for your mineral rights.
• Explaining lease terms: They often outline royalty percentages, lease length, and other conditions, although the explanation will be from the company’s perspective.
• Answering initial questions: Many owners rely on a landman for basic information about drilling or development in the area.
• Collecting signatures: Once an agreement is reached, the landman will usually be the person who delivers and retrieves the signed paperwork.

For mineral owners, the key is to remember that the landman is not a neutral party. Their job is to secure the best possible terms for the company, which means you should carefully review any documents and consider getting independent advice before signing.

For most mineral owners, hiring a landman is not necessary. When you receive an offer to lease or sell mineral rights, the company or buyer will run title on their own to confirm ownership. That process is part of the transaction and does not cost you anything.

The only situation where it makes sense to hire your own landman is when you want to verify exactly what you own before moving forward. Even then, this is usually only worthwhile if you believe your minerals have significant value. Paying for independent title research on small or inactive interests is often more expensive than it is useful.

What is Title?

Title is the official record of who owns mineral rights. Landmen establish ownership by searching public records at the county courthouse. This work involves reviewing deeds, probate records, wills, and other filings to trace how the rights passed from one person to the next.

In many cases, a landman may track ownership back decades, sometimes all the way to the original land grant or patent issued by the government.

For mineral owners, this process is important because it shows whether you own clear title and whether there are other parties who share ownership. Title work is also how oil and gas companies make sure they are leasing from the correct people before drilling a well.

Landmen are usually paid by the hour or by the day. Rates vary depending on experience and the complexity of the project, but a typical range is $300 to $600 per day. In some areas, that can translate to $50 to $100 per hour.

For mineral owners, this cost adds up quickly because title research is time-intensive. Running title might require several full days at the courthouse, especially if ownership records go back many decades. A single detailed title check could cost several thousand dollars.

This is why most mineral owners choose not to hire a landman. If you receive a lease or purchase offer, the company making the offer will cover the cost of running title on their side. The only time it makes sense to pay for independent title research is when you believe your minerals have substantial value and want clear proof of ownership before moving forward.

Landman salaries vary widely depending on experience, location, and whether they work for a major oil company or as an independent contractor. Entry-level landmen may earn around $50,000 to $70,000 per year, while experienced professionals working in busy shale plays can earn $100,000 or more.

Contract landmen are often paid a daily rate instead of a salary. These day rates commonly range from $300 to $600 per day, and in some cases even higher for specialized projects. During drilling booms, demand for landmen rises and pay increases. When activity slows down, many landmen find themselves competing for fewer opportunities.

For mineral owners, the main takeaway is not the exact number a landman earns but what it represents. The companies investing in oil and gas development are willing to pay landmen well because accurate title research and strong lease negotiations directly protect their bottom line. That is why mineral owners should remember that landmen are motivated to serve the company’s interests first.

The terms “petroleum landman” and “oil and gas landman” are often used interchangeably. Both describe professionals who negotiate leases, run title, and secure mineral rights for energy companies. The distinction is more about wording than about two separate careers.

A petroleum landman usually works directly in the oil and gas industry, often for large operators or companies with active drilling programs. An oil and gas landman may be an independent contractor or consultant who takes on projects for different clients. In practice, the responsibilities overlap almost completely.

For mineral owners, the important point is that regardless of the title, the landman represents the company’s interests. Whether the person calls themselves a petroleum landman, an oil and gas landman, or simply a landman, their goal is to obtain rights for exploration and production on the best possible terms for the operator.

A landman’s job is often described in technical terms, but from a mineral owner’s perspective it comes down to a few clear responsibilities. The landman is the person who connects oil and gas companies with the legal rights they need to drill. To make that happen, they:

• Research public records to determine who owns mineral rights.
• Contact mineral owners to present lease or purchase offers.
• Negotiate lease terms, royalty percentages, and payment structures.
• Deliver contracts and collect signatures once an agreement is reached.

The detailed version of the job includes title research, contract management, and serving as a liaison between attorneys, operators, and landowners. For mineral owners, the important thing to know is that every task a landman performs is designed to move oil and gas development forward.

Most of the time, landmen are hired by oil and gas companies, not individual mineral owners. Even so, their work behind the scenes can be useful if you are uncertain about what you own and your minerals are located in a high-value area.

When a company is interested in drilling, landmen spend long hours at the courthouse researching deeds, probate files, and property records to verify ownership. This process confirms who has the legal right to lease or sell. If you are not sure about your share, the title work done by a landman can help clarify your position.

Mineral owners do not normally need to pay for this research because the company covers the cost as part of its investment in the project. However, if you suspect your minerals are valuable and want to know exactly what you own before responding to an offer, hiring a landman to run independent title research may provide peace of mind.

Most mineral owners will never need to hire a landman directly. If you receive a lease or purchase offer, the company making the offer will already run title and confirm ownership. That means the cost and effort of hiring your own landman is usually unnecessary.

There are alternatives when you want more information without taking on the expense. An oil and gas attorney can review lease terms or purchase contracts to make sure your rights are protected. A mineral rights broker can help you market your interest to multiple buyers, which often results in higher offers. In both cases, these professionals work with the title research already completed by the company or its landmen.

The bottom line is that mineral owners rarely need to hire a landman themselves. The only time it makes sense is when you believe your minerals are valuable and you want independent confirmation of what you own before making a decision.

A landman plays a critical role in the oil and gas industry. They secure leases, verify ownership through title research, and act as the company’s representative when approaching mineral owners. While their work is essential for energy companies, mineral owners should remember that the landman’s first responsibility is to the operator, not to the individual landowner.

For most mineral owners, it is not necessary to hire a landman directly. The company making an offer will run its own title and cover that cost. Independent landman services only make sense if you are in a high-value area and want to confirm exactly what you own before negotiating.

Understanding what a landman does gives you an advantage when you receive an offer. You will know why they are contacting you, what role they play, and how to approach the decision with confidence.