Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

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.

AI Resistance Index 81 of 99

Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 81% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by +0.8% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and physical dexterity.

AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.

Median pay (2025): $67,890
Job growth to 2035: +0.8%
Openings a year: 1,100
People doing it (2025): 12,700
Usual route in: No formal credential, then moderate on-the-job training

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Where people already use AI for this work

Set up equipment
Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
Prepare mixtures or solutions

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Maintain tools or equipment
Operate lifting or moving equipment
Operate construction or excavation equipment

What the work looks like

Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
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.
Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
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.
Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as advancements in automated well drilling boosts labor productivity and reduces the number of rotatory drill operators required in oil and gas drilling.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 89, +4.6%
RoofersHuman edge, growing, Index 94, +5.3%
Derrick operators, oil and gasHuman edge, steady, Index 87, +1.6%
Electrical power-line installers and repairersHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +10.3%

Also known as: Drill Operator, Driller, Oil Well Driller, Rotary Driller, Daylight Driller, Motor Man, Oil Rig Driller, Relief Driller.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.