Jobs for Felons in Wyoming: Complete Employment Guide

Wyoming's Job Market for Individuals with Criminal Records

Wyoming presents unique opportunities for job seekers with felony convictions, particularly in industries facing critical labor shortages. The state's economy relies heavily on natural resource extraction, agriculture, and tourism, creating diverse employment pathways for motivated workers. Unlike densely populated urban areas where competition intensifies, Wyoming's smaller population and growing industries often prioritize work ethic and reliability over pristine criminal records.

The Equality State's unemployment rate consistently remains below national averages, currently sitting at 3.2% as of 2024. This tight labor market benefits individuals with criminal backgrounds, as employers increasingly focus on filling positions with qualified candidates regardless of past mistakes. Wyoming's "Ban the Box" initiatives in certain municipalities prevent employers from asking about criminal history during initial application stages, giving candidates opportunities to demonstrate their qualifications first.

Oil and Gas Industry Opportunities

Wyoming leads the nation in natural gas production and ranks among the top coal-producing states, creating substantial employment opportunities in energy sectors. Major companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Devon Energy operate extensive facilities throughout the state, offering entry-level positions that don't require extensive background screening for non-safety-sensitive roles. These positions often start at $18-25 per hour with comprehensive benefits packages and clear advancement pathways. The industry's robust presence across Wyoming's landscape means opportunities exist from the Powder River Basin to the Green River Basin, providing geographic flexibility for job seekers.

The industry's demanding work environment and remote locations sometimes deter applicants, making employers more willing to consider candidates with criminal backgrounds who demonstrate commitment and reliability. Oil field services, pipeline maintenance, and transportation roles frequently offer overtime opportunities, allowing dedicated workers to earn $60,000-80,000 annually within their first year. Companies also provide specialized training programs, enabling career progression into supervisory and technical positions that command even higher salaries. Many energy companies offer comprehensive benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, and educational assistance programs that support long-term career development.

Wyoming's energy sector operates on a 24/7 schedule, creating shift work opportunities that often come with premium pay rates for evening, weekend, and holiday hours. The industry's cyclical nature means that while work can be intense during boom periods, companies often retain experienced workers during slower times, valuing their investment in training and development. Remote work locations frequently provide company housing or housing allowances, reducing living expenses and allowing workers to maximize their earning potential while gaining valuable industry experience.

Field Operations and Production Roles

Roughneck and derrick hand positions serve as common entry points into Wyoming's oil and gas industry, requiring no prior experience but offering substantial earning potential through overtime and hazard pay differentials. These roles involve operating drilling equipment, maintaining wellheads, and supporting extraction operations under the guidance of experienced crew leaders. Physical demands include lifting heavy equipment, working in various weather conditions, and maintaining alertness during long shifts, but companies provide comprehensive safety training and protective equipment to ensure worker wellbeing.

Production operators and lease operators represent the next career level, responsible for monitoring wells, conducting routine maintenance, and ensuring optimal production levels across multiple sites. These positions require developing technical knowledge of production systems, safety protocols, and basic troubleshooting skills, but most companies provide extensive on-the-job training and mentorship programs. Career advancement often leads to senior operator positions, field supervisor roles, and eventually management opportunities for dedicated workers who demonstrate leadership potential and technical competence.

Pipeline construction and maintenance crews also welcome workers with criminal backgrounds, especially those demonstrating mechanical aptitude and reliability. These specialized roles involve installing, inspecting, and repairing pipeline systems that transport oil and gas across Wyoming and neighboring states. Workers gain valuable welding, excavation, and technical skills while earning competitive wages and building experience in critical energy infrastructure maintenance.

Transportation and Energy Logistics

The energy sector's transportation needs create numerous opportunities for individuals with commercial driving licenses, with specialized roles requiring different skill levels and offering varying compensation packages. CDL drivers in Wyoming's oil and gas industry earn $55,000-75,000 annually, while equipment operators typically make $45,000-65,000 per year. While certain violent or drug-related convictions may disqualify candidates initially, many companies consider applications after waiting periods and successful completion of rehabilitation programs. Transportation roles often provide the most direct path to employment for individuals with criminal backgrounds, as companies prioritize driving records and reliability over distant criminal history.

These roles often involve travel throughout Wyoming and neighboring states, providing exposure to different aspects of energy infrastructure while building valuable experience. Specialized transportation positions include vacuum truck operators who handle waste water and drilling fluids, water haulers who supply drilling operations, and equipment transport drivers who move heavy machinery between job sites using specialized trailers and rigging equipment.

Agricultural and Ranching Employment

Wyoming's agricultural heritage creates extensive employment opportunities on cattle ranches, sheep operations, and crop farms throughout the state. Ranch work traditionally values hard work, dependability, and practical skills over criminal background checks, making it an ideal sector for individuals seeking fresh starts. Many ranching operations provide housing, meals, and steady employment year-round, offering stability that urban jobs rarely match.

• Cattle Ranch Operations: Cowboys, ranch hands, and livestock specialists handle daily operations including feeding, medical care, and herd management. These positions typically provide housing in ranch bunkhouses or mobile homes, significantly reducing living expenses while offering immersive learning experiences in agricultural practices.
• Horse Training and Breeding: Specialized operations welcome workers with animal handling experience or strong learning attitudes, often paying premium wages for skilled workers. These facilities focus on equine care, training programs, and breeding operations that require dedicated, reliable staff members.
• Seasonal Agricultural Work: Sugar beet harvest, hay production, and livestock operations require temporary workers during peak seasons, allowing individuals to demonstrate their work ethic while earning competitive wages. These positions often lead to permanent employment offers for reliable workers.
• Equipment Operation and Maintenance: Ranch managers prioritize practical skills like heavy machinery operation, irrigation system maintenance, and general farm equipment repair. These technical roles offer higher wages and opportunities for advancement within agricultural operations.

Wyoming's agricultural sector faces ongoing labor shortages as younger generations migrate to urban areas, creating exceptional opportunities for motivated workers regardless of criminal history. The combination of stable employment, housing benefits, and skills development makes ranching an ideal pathway for individuals seeking long-term career stability in Wyoming's rural communities.

Construction and Skilled Trades

Entry-Level Construction and General Labor

Construction companies throughout Wyoming actively recruit workers for immediate placement in residential and commercial projects, with entry-level positions typically starting at $15-20 per hour. Framing crews, roofing teams, and general laborers work on everything from single-family homes to major commercial developments, requiring physical stamina rather than extensive background screening. Many companies provide on-the-job training for specific skills like concrete work, site preparation, and basic carpentry, allowing workers to develop marketable abilities while earning steady wages.

Apprenticeship and Training Programs

Wyoming's construction apprenticeship programs provide structured pathways for career development in skilled trades, combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience over 3-4 years and resulting in journeyman certification. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades offer licensing opportunities that lead to independent contractor status and business ownership possibilities, with most licensing boards focusing on public safety concerns rather than blanket disqualifications for felony convictions. The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services partners with construction unions and contractors to offer pre-apprenticeship programs that prepare candidates for formal apprenticeships, including basic construction skills, safety training, and soft skills development that improve employment success rates.

Second-Chance Employers and Supportive Businesses

Numerous Wyoming employers actively participate in second-chance hiring initiatives, recognizing the value of motivated workers seeking redemption through honest employment. Major retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe's maintain corporate policies supporting the employment of individuals with criminal backgrounds, focusing on job-relevant qualifications rather than past mistakes. These companies often provide advancement opportunities and skills training that support long-term career development.

Local businesses throughout Wyoming also demonstrate remarkable openness to hiring individuals with felony convictions, particularly in service industries facing chronic staffing challenges. Restaurants, hotels, and retail establishments frequently prioritize work ethic and customer service skills over criminal history, especially for positions not involving financial responsibilities or sensitive customer information. Manufacturing companies operating in Wyoming, including food processing facilities and industrial manufacturers, often maintain flexible hiring policies that consider individual circumstances.

• Walmart: Comprehensive second-chance hiring program with advancement opportunities
• McDonald's: Local franchise flexibility in hiring decisions for restaurant positions
• UPS: Package handling and delivery positions with potential career growth
• FedEx: Warehouse and transportation roles with competitive benefits packages
• Amazon: Fulfillment center positions with rapid hiring processes and advancement potential

These corporations maintain established procedures for evaluating candidates with criminal backgrounds while providing structured career advancement opportunities. Many offer benefits packages, skills training, and internal promotion pathways that support long-term employment stability and professional growth.

Professional Licensing and Career Restrictions

Wyoming's professional licensing requirements vary significantly across different industries, with some boards maintaining strict restrictions while others focus primarily on public safety considerations. Healthcare professions, financial services, and positions involving vulnerable populations typically require thorough background reviews and may restrict individuals with certain types of convictions. However, many licensing boards consider rehabilitation evidence, time elapsed since conviction, and relevance to professional responsibilities when making determinations.

Trade licensing for electricians, plumbers, and contractors generally proves more accessible, with boards focusing on technical competency and public safety rather than comprehensive background restrictions. Most trade licenses require apprenticeship completion and examination passage, allowing individuals to demonstrate current qualifications and professional development regardless of past mistakes. Professional rehabilitation programs and expungement processes in Wyoming can restore eligibility for certain restricted positions.

Real estate licensing in Wyoming remains attainable for many individuals with criminal backgrounds, particularly those with non-violent convictions or substantial rehabilitation evidence. The real estate commission reviews applications individually, considering factors like time elapsed, nature of offenses, and evidence of current trustworthiness and competence. Insurance licensing and sales positions also provide opportunities for individuals seeking professional careers with flexible schedules and income potential based on performance.

Accessible Career Pathways

Transportation and logistics careers offer substantial opportunities for individuals with criminal backgrounds in Wyoming's economy. Truck driving, warehouse management, and shipping coordination roles typically focus on reliability and work performance rather than criminal history. Many companies provide CDL training and certification assistance, creating pathways to well-paying careers with advancement potential.

Customer service and administrative roles in various industries also remain accessible to individuals with felony convictions. These positions often emphasize communication skills, computer proficiency, and professional demeanor rather than requiring extensive background screening. Call centers, administrative support, and data entry positions provide stable employment with opportunities for skill development and career progression.

Job Search Strategies and Resources

Effective job searching with a criminal background requires strategic approaches that emphasize qualifications, work ethic, and rehabilitation efforts while addressing potential employer concerns proactively. Developing a compelling personal narrative that acknowledges past mistakes while highlighting growth, skills, and commitment to positive change helps differentiate candidates in competitive markets. Professional resume writing that focuses on relevant experience, certifications, and achievements rather than chronological employment gaps can effectively present qualifications before criminal history discussions become necessary.

• Networking and Community Engagement: Wyoming's tight-knit communities often prove more effective than online applications for individuals with criminal backgrounds. Attending industry events, joining professional organizations, and participating in community activities builds relationships that lead to employment opportunities through personal recommendations rather than formal screening processes.
• Direct Employer Outreach: In-person visits, phone calls, or personalized emails allow candidates to make positive impressions before criminal background questions arise. This approach works particularly well with smaller businesses and local employers who value personal connections and individual character assessments.
• Government Support Services: Wyoming's Department of Workforce Services provides specialized programs for individuals with criminal backgrounds, including job placement assistance, skills training, and employer outreach initiatives. These services include resume development, interview preparation, and ongoing support throughout the job search process.
• Professional Development and Training: Community colleges throughout Wyoming offer vocational training programs, continuing education courses, and certification programs that enhance employability while demonstrating commitment to professional development. Creating professional online profiles through LinkedIn and industry-specific platforms helps establish credibility before criminal background issues arise.

Success in Wyoming's job market requires persistence, strategic planning, and leveraging available resources to overcome employment barriers. The combination of targeted networking, professional development, and utilizing state support services significantly improves employment outcomes for individuals with criminal backgrounds seeking meaningful career opportunities.Add to Conversation

Conclusion

Wyoming's diverse economy and ongoing labor shortages create exceptional opportunities for individuals with felony convictions seeking meaningful employment and career advancement. The state's dominant industries—oil and gas, agriculture, and construction—prioritize work ethic, reliability, and practical skills over pristine criminal backgrounds, making them ideal entry points for motivated job seekers. Success requires strategic job searching, professional development, and persistence, but Wyoming's supportive business community and tight labor market provide genuine pathways to financial stability and career growth. With proper preparation and realistic expectations, individuals with criminal backgrounds can build successful careers while contributing positively to Wyoming's continued economic development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can felons work in Wyoming's oil and gas industry? 

Yes, Wyoming's oil and gas industry actively hires individuals with felony convictions for many positions. Entry-level roles like roughneck, derrick hand, and general labor typically don't require extensive background screening, and companies often prioritize work ethic and reliability over criminal history. However, safety-sensitive positions may have additional screening requirements.

What jobs in Wyoming don't require background checks? 

Many agricultural positions, construction labor jobs, and small business roles in Wyoming don't require formal background checks. Ranch work, farm labor, landscaping, and general construction positions often hire based on ability and work ethic rather than criminal history. However, most employers retain the right to conduct background checks even if not initially required.

How long do employers in Wyoming look back on criminal records? 

Wyoming follows federal Fair Credit Reporting Act guidelines, meaning most employers cannot consider arrests without convictions or criminal records older than seven years. However, positions involving security, healthcare, or financial responsibilities may have different requirements, and some employers may consider more recent convictions case-by-case.

Are there programs in Wyoming that help felons find jobs? 

Yes, Wyoming's Department of Workforce Services offers specialized programs for individuals with criminal backgrounds, including job placement assistance, skills training, and employer outreach initiatives. Additionally, nonprofit organizations and community colleges provide vocational training, certification programs, and ongoing support throughout the job search process.

What types of professional licenses can felons obtain in Wyoming? 

Many trade licenses in Wyoming remain accessible to individuals with felony convictions, including electrical, plumbing, and general contractor licenses. Real estate and insurance licensing are also possible depending on the nature of convictions and evidence of rehabilitation. Healthcare and financial services licensing typically have stricter requirements and may restrict certain types of convictions.

Do Wyoming employers have to follow "Ban the Box" policies? 

While Wyoming doesn't have a statewide "Ban the Box" law, some municipalities have implemented policies preventing employers from asking about criminal history during initial application stages. However, many employers voluntarily delay criminal background inquiries until after initial interviews, allowing candidates to demonstrate qualifications first.

Additional Resources

1. Wyoming Department of Workforce Services - Reentry Employment Programs
   https://www.wyomingworkforce.org/workers/reentry/
2. Wyoming Community College System - Vocational Training Programs
   https://www.wccc.wy.edu/programs/workforce-development
3. Legal Aid of Wyoming - Expungement and Record Sealing Services
   https://www.legalaidofwyoming.org/criminal-record-help
4. Wyoming Small Business Development Center - Entrepreneurship Resources
   https://www.wyomingsbdc.org/starting-a-business
5. National Reentry Resource Center - State-Specific Employment Information
   https://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/states/wyoming
6. Goodwill Industries of Wyoming - Job Training and Placement Services
   https://www.goodwill.org/locations/wyoming
7. Wyoming Workforce Development Training Fund
   https://www.wyomingbusiness.org/workforce-development
8. U.S. Department of Labor - Federal Bonding Program for At-Risk Job Applicants
   https://bonds4jobs.com/