TLD 056 - Day Rates, Mentorship, and the Future of Field Work with Kyle Reynolds

Date Published:

January 22, 2026

Guests

Kyle Reynolds

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AAPL President Kyle Reynolds sheds light on the landman compensation crisis that's threatening the industry's future. While attorney salaries jumped 76% since 2000, field landmen still earn the same $400-500 day rates they have for the past 25 years. That puts them below the living wage in most markets. Reynolds shares AAPL's strategic plan to address the talent shortage before 40-50% of field landmen retire, plus insights on recruiting across oil, gas, and renewables.

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What You’ll Learn

Why field landman day rates haven't increased since 2000, despite doubled costs
The real numbers behind the landman talent shortage and aging workforce
How AAPL is tackling compensation conversations without price-fixing
Why field experience matters more than ever for career advancement
Smart strategies for justifying higher contractor rates to operators

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Time Stamps

00:42 - Episode & Guest Intro
00:54 - Kyle's Journey as AAPL President
02:15 - The Evolving Role of Landmen
02:45 - Impact of Media and Education on Landmen
04:31 - Recruitment and Training Challenges
07:44 - Field vs. In-House Landmen
11:37 - The Importance of Mentorship
17:51 - Economic Realities and Compensation
26:46 - The Future of Landmen and Technology
35:11 - Understanding Brokerage Fees and Costs
36:10 - The Importance of Skilled Labor in Drilling Projects
37:54 - The Value of Investing in Quality Landmen
38:49 - Challenges and Strategies in Land Management
47:18 - The Debate on Licensing for Landmen
51:35 - Innovative Approaches to Land Management

Snippets from the Episode

"Field landman day rates have been pretty stagnant, $400 to $500 a day in 2000, and that's still what they're making today. In 2000, a field landman made more than the average attorney. Fast forward 25 years, attorneys are up 50-something percent versus five." - Kyle Reynolds
"If you just look at inflation, $400 in 2000 is $770 today. You took what was a really high-paying job and now you're scraping." - Kyle Reynolds
"Texas is the only place that our field landmen are making money above the living wage standard. You could make more money working at Buc-ee's than doing this work on an hourly basis." - Kyle Reynolds
"The forward face of your company is not your VP of land, it's the landman who actually took the lease and said, 'We're going to take care of you, Mr. Jones.'" - Kyle Reynolds
"About 40-50% of our members are nearing retirement age. Most of those are the ones out in the field, brokers, independent landmen. That's where there really is this age gap." - Kyle Reynolds

Key Takeaways

Field landmen earn below living wage in most US markets
Day rates flat since 2000 while attorney pay increased 76%
40-50% of field landmen approaching retirement creates talent crisis
COPAS billing rates up 350% while landman rates stayed flat
Field experience essential for in-house career advancement
Technology requires mentorship can't replace human expertise
Quality contractors justify premium rates through measurable results

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