Headline risk
3%
Very Low RiskRotary drill operators, oil and gas
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 65,010
Employment 2024
13.3K
Projected Change (2024–34)
0.2%
Openings (2024–34)
1.2K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of oil and gas workers is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs. AI use: 0%
- 2. Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes. AI use: 0%
- 3. Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance. AI use: 0%
- 4. Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes. AI use: 0%
- 5. Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools. AI use: 0%
- 6. Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 46.9 · 59K employed
Under 25: 10% · 25–54: 69% · 55+: 20%
Related
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
title_match · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Oil and gas workers assemble, operate, and maintain equipment used for oil and gas exploration, extraction, and related activities.
Most oil and gas workers are full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Schedules vary and may require workers to spend long periods away from home. Their jobs are often physically demanding and may require being outdoors in all weather conditions.
Although formal education is not typically required to become an oil or gas worker, some employers require or prefer that candidates have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Oil and gas workers learn on the job.
The median annual wage for oil and gas workers was $52,610 in May 2024.
Overall employment of oil and gas workers is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.