Petroleum engineers devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production. They plan how to drill wells, model what is underground and decide how to get the most out of existing fields. AI and software help with reservoir models and production data. Decisions about wells, safety and spending stay with engineers.
The short answer: low exposure; oil and gas markets matter more than AI. The ILO's 2025 index rates mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.29. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed petroleum engineers 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Related Professionals | Not exposed | 0.29 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for petroleum engineers, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum engineers | Grow 2% | About 1,000 |
The BLS expects some demand from the need to help with extraction at existing operations. It notes that US oil and gas production may fluctuate with global supply and demand and the energy outlook, which might affect employment. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Building and updating reservoir models from seismic and well data.
- Spotting production problems in sensor data from wells.
- Comparing drilling and completion plans faster.
What stays with petroleum engineers
- Field decisions: where and how to drill and when to change plans.
- Safety and environment: managing well risks and meeting rules.
- Economics: weighing costs, prices and risk on big investments.
- Checking AI help: model outputs and generated reports can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Data tools make it easier to get more from existing fields, which is where the BLS sees demand. Employment will likely move with oil and gas prices more than with AI. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace oil and gas workers?, will AI replace geoscientists? and will AI replace engineers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for petroleum engineers at $144,910 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace petroleum engineers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 2 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year.
How exposed are petroleum engineers to AI?
The ILO rates mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.29.
What affects demand most?
The BLS says US oil and gas production may fluctuate with global supply and demand and the energy outlook.
Where does AI help?
Mainly in reservoir modeling and analyzing production data, with engineers making the field decisions.