Oil and gas workers assemble, operate and maintain equipment used for oil and gas exploration, extraction and related activities. They work on rigs and well sites as roustabouts, derrick and rotary drill operators, and service unit operators. Generative AI has little to do with the physical work; drilling technology and automation are the bigger changes.
The short answer: AI is not the main factor; automation and better drilling are. The ILO's 2025 index rates well drillers and borers, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.19. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 9,900 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed oil and gas workers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Well Drillers and Borers and Related Workers | Not exposed | 0.19 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for oil and gas workers, not a score for the job title itself.
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and gas workers | Grow 2% | About 9,900 |
The BLS says better drilling capabilities mean companies can extract more oil and gas with fewer rigs. It adds that robotics, automated drilling technologies and remote monitoring are expected to dampen some demand for these workers. Most openings will come from replacing workers who change jobs or retire.
What automation is taking on
- Handling pipe on the rig floor with robotic systems.
- Controlling drilling with automated systems that adjust in real time.
- Watching wells and equipment from remote operations centers.
What stays with oil and gas workers
- Rig and well work: assembling, repairing and maintaining equipment on site.
- Safety: spotting hazards and responding when things go wrong.
- Troubleshooting: fixing problems that automated systems cannot.
- Checking AI help: generated procedures and specs can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Fewer rigs are needed for the same output, and more monitoring moves off site. Workers who can run and maintain automated equipment are better placed. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace heavy equipment operators?, will AI replace geoscientists? and will AI replace power plant operators?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for oil and gas workers at $51,650 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: no formal educational credential. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace oil and gas workers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 2 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 9,900 openings a year.
How exposed are oil and gas workers to AI?
The ILO rates well drillers and borers, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.19.
Is automation a risk for this job?
The BLS says robotics, automated drilling and remote monitoring are expected to dampen some demand.
Why are fewer rigs needed?
The BLS says better drilling capabilities let companies extract more oil and gas with fewer rigs.