Petroleum engineer
Finds better ways to get oil and gas out of the ground, decides if new tools are needed, and oversees drilling.
Will AI replace petroleum engineer jobs?
AI changes jobs more often than it replaces them. How much AI can help with this work: High. More AI overlap than 69 in 100 jobs. AI can help with many tasks. The job is changing fast, and people who use AI well will lead it. 0% of this job’s working time is already spent on tasks people bring to AI at work (Anthropic Economic Index). Based on Microsoft research on real AI use at work, matched to the tasks of each job in O*NET.
What AI already helps with
- Write technical reports for engineers and managers
- Keep records of drilling and production work
- Explain drilling and testing information to staff
What stays human
- Test machinery to make sure it is safe and performs as specified
- Inspect oil and gas wells to confirm installations are finished
- Supervise removing drilling equipment and waste and restoring the land
10-year outlook · USA
Expected change in the number of these jobs by 2035: +2%. Typical pay: $144,910 a year. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. German figures differ, but the direction is usually similar.
Try Petroleum engineer for a day
MAYBE finds someone who does this work and sets up a real day with them. You see the job up close, including how AI shows up in it, and then we help you make sense of what you felt.