Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
Construction and Extraction Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 47-5012.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.19
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 21 hidden tasks22 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (4.5%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.O*NET Task ID 8301 | 1.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (21)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs. | Core |
| Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required. | Core |
| Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance. | Core |
| Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well. | Core |
| Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools. | Core |
| Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud. | Core |
| Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells. | Core |
| Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools. | Core |
| Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools. | Core |
| Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables. | Core |
| Bolt together pump and engine parts, and connect tanks and flow lines. | Core |
| Remove core samples during drilling to determine the nature of the strata being drilled. | Core |
| Cap wells with packers, or turn valves, to regulate outflow of oil from wells. | Core |
| Line drilled holes with pipes, and install all necessary hardware, to prepare new wells. | Core |
| Position and prepare truck-mounted derricks at drilling areas specified on field maps. | Supplemental |
| Plug observation wells, and restore sites. | Supplemental |
| Lower and explode charges in boreholes to start flow of oil from wells. | Supplemental |
1.31/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| 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. | E2 structured facilities |
| 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. | E2 structured facilities |
| Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs. | E2 structured facilities |
| Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance. | E2 structured facilities |
| Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well. | E2 structured facilities |
| Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools. | E0 none |
| Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud. | E2 structured facilities |
| Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools. | E0 none |
| Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Bolt together pump and engine parts, and connect tanks and flow lines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove core samples during drilling to determine the nature of the strata being drilled. | E0 none |
| Cap wells with packers, or turn valves, to regulate outflow of oil from wells. | E2 structured facilities |
| Line drilled holes with pipes, and install all necessary hardware, to prepare new wells. | E2 structured facilities |
| Position and prepare truck-mounted derricks at drilling areas specified on field maps. | E2 structured facilities |
| Plug observation wells, and restore sites. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 13K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 13K
- Change (2025–35)
- +0.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $67,890
- Typical education needed for entry
- No formal educational credential
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87402 | 시추 장비 조작원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 8113Well Drillers and Borers and Related Workers
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Well drillers and borers and related workers position, assemble and operate drilling machinery and related equipment to sink wells, extract rock samples, liquids and gases or for a variety of other purposes.
Tasks
- (a) dismantling, moving and assembling drilling rigs and auxiliary equipment;
- (b) assembling and dismantling pipes, casings and drill heads, and replacing dysfunctional equipment;
- (c) operating controls to lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells, regulate pressure in the well and control the speed of tools;
- (d) preparing drilling fluid and checking the operation of pumps to ensure adequate circulation of fluid in drill pipe and well;
- (e) monitoring gauges and other indicators and listening to equipment to detect malfunctions and unusual well conditions, and determining the need to change drilling or equipment;
- (f) maintaining, adjusting, repairing and cleaning drilling rigs, hoisting and other machinery;
- (g) maintaining records of drilling and servicing operations;
- (h) operating machines and tools to extract dust, cuttings and lost and broken drilling equipment from holes and wells;
- (i) closing and sealing wells no longer in use;
- (j) supervising and training crew members.
Example occupations
Bore sinker · Boring equipment operator · Derrickman · Derrick operator · Developmental driller · Directional driller · Driller (oil or gas well) · Drilling plant operator · Drilling rig operator · Power-tong operator · Toolpusher · Tourpusher
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- drill operatorESCO 8113.2Same scope
Drill operators supervise a team during rigging and drilling operations. They monitor well activity and take measures in case of emergencies.
- drillerESCO 8111.2Same scope
Drillers set up and operate drilling rigs and related equipment designed to drill holes for mineral exploration, in shotfiring operations, and for construction purposes.
- oil rig motorhandESCO 8113.3This occupation is broader
Oil rig motorhands assume responsibility for the engines powering the drilling equipment. They ensure that all other rig equipment operates correctly.
- drilling machine operatorESCO 7223.5Overlapping, not the same
Drilling machine operators set up, program and control drilling machines, designed to drill holes in workpieces using a computer-controlled, rotary-cutting, multipointed cutting tool, inserted into the workpiece axially. They read drilling machine blueprints and tooling instructions, perform regular machine maintenance, and make adjustments to the drilling controls, such as the depth of drills or the rotation speed.
- tool pusherESCO 8113.7Overlapping, not the same
Tool pushers assume responsibility over daily drilling operations. They do mostly administrative work. Tool pushers ensure that the oil rig has sufficient materials, spare parts and enough personnel to continue with the daily operations. They conduct drilling activities in accordance with scheduled programme, supervising drilling crew and equipment.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| F1403 | Foreur / Foreuse pétrole et gaz | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| F1404 | Technicien / Technicienne de forage pétrole et gaz | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| F1211 | Responsable d'exploitation de gisements pétrole et gaz | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| F1401 | Foreur / Foreuse | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8113 | Sondistas y trabajadores afines | This occupation is narrower |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 21112 | Berufe im Berg- und Tagebau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 645 | 建設・さく井機械運転従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources