As of June 2026, Petroleum Engineers has an AI-exposure score of 61/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Petroleum Engineers
More exposed than 69% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$144,910. About 1,200 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Architecture & Engineering roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
- Interpret drilling and testing information for personnel.
- Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
- Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
- Assign work to staff to obtain maximum utilization of personnel.
- Write technical reports for engineering and management personnel.
- Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
- Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
- Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites.
- Test machinery and equipment to ensure that it is safe and conforms to performance specifications.
- Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.
- Simulate reservoir performance for different recovery techniques, using computer models.
- Coordinate the installation, maintenance, and operation of mining and oil field equipment.
- Evaluate findings to develop, design, or test equipment or processes.
- Inspect oil and gas wells to determine that installations are completed.
- Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
- Design and implement environmental controls on oil and gas operations.
- Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development.
- Supervise the removal of drilling equipment, the removal of any waste, and the safe return of land to structural stability when wells or pockets are exhausted.
- Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems.
Safer adjacent roles
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Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026
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