Petroleum Engineers
Machines can already do 38% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 66%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Petroleum Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 38% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 66% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 18,060 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $144,910 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 68% for contact with people.
- Also called: Completion Engineer, Drilling Engineer, Engineer, Operations Engineer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production | 8% | 45% to 82% | |
| Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production | 8% | 60% to 90% | |
| Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems | 8% | 10% to 30% | |
| Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys | 8% | 10% to 30% | |
| Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment | 8% | 40% to 75% | |
| Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites | 8% | 60% to 90% | |
| Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery | 6% | 18% to 42% | |
| Maintain records of drilling and production operations | 6% | 70% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills petroleum engineers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Computer and Information Systems Managers65% of tasks by 2035 · US median $175,140
- Food Scientists and Technologists50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $88,720
- Chief Technology Officers60% of tasks by 2035
- Biochemists and Biophysicists63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $127,410
What should you do about it?
Open this job in the Workforce Starburst to see it for your country, then use these to act on it.
Watch This Job
Get told when the outlook for this job changes.
Free planSkills to learn next
The skills that make this job, or the next one, last longer.
In the StarburstCheck your readiness
Ten quick questions on how ready you are.
FreeAsk Vantage
Ask what this job means for you and get a sourced answer.
Free to askFutures Academy courses
Courses matched to your gaps.
Coming soonPay trend
Where pay for this job is heading.
Coming soonTeam plan
Every role in your team, side by side, with a plan for each.
Pro and CorporateShared workspace
Work through it with your team, with notes and decisions kept.
Pro and Corporate
Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Petroleum Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of petroleum engineers?
Machines can do 38% of the tasks of petroleum engineers today and 66% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2171.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Petroleum Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/petroleum-engineers/