Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
Construction and Extraction Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 47-5071.00
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
- 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
13 rated tasks · 0 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (0.0%)
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
- 2 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are 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 |
|---|---|
Clean up spilled oil by bailing it into barrels.O*NET Task ID 7111 | 0.0 |
Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.O*NET Task ID 7112 | 0.0 |
Bolt together pump and engine parts.O*NET Task ID 7113 | 0.0 |
Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.O*NET Task ID 7115 | 0.0 |
Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.O*NET Task ID 7116 | 0.0 |
Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.O*NET Task ID 7117 | 0.0 |
Keep pipe deck and main deck areas clean and tidy.O*NET Task ID 7118 | 0.0 |
Guide cranes to move loads about decks.O*NET Task ID 7119 | 0.0 |
Supply equipment to rig floors as requested and provide assistance to roughnecks.O*NET Task ID 7120 | 0.0 |
Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks.O*NET Task ID 7121 | 0.0 |
Cut down and remove trees and brush to clear drill sites, to reduce fire hazards, and to make way for roads to sites.O*NET Task ID 7122 | 0.0 |
Bolt or nail together wood or steel framework to erect derricks.O*NET Task ID 7123 | 0.0 |
Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks.O*NET Task ID 20145 | 0.0 |
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 (13)
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 |
|---|---|
| Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs. | Core |
| Bolt together pump and engine parts. | Core |
| Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand. | Core |
| Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools. | Core |
| Guide cranes to move loads about decks. | Core |
| Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks. | Core |
| Lay gas and oil pipelines. | Core |
| Clean trucks used in the fields. | Core |
| Clean up spilled oil by bailing it into barrels. | Supplemental |
| Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks. | Supplemental |
| Supply equipment to rig floors as requested and provide assistance to roughnecks. | Supplemental |
| Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks. | Supplemental |
| Cut down and remove trees and brush to clear drill sites, to reduce fire hazards, and to make way for roads to sites. | Supplemental |
0.74/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Bolt together pump and engine parts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools. | E0 none |
| Guide cranes to move loads about decks. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks. | E0 none |
| Lay gas and oil pipelines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean trucks used in the fields. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean up spilled oil by bailing it into barrels. | E0 none |
| Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks. | E2 structured facilities |
| Supply equipment to rig floors as requested and provide assistance to roughnecks. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Cut down and remove trees and brush to clear drill sites, to reduce fire hazards, and to make way for roads to sites. | E2 structured facilities |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 46K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 47K
- Change (2025–35)
- +3.6%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $46,960
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91002 | 광업 단순 종사원 | Related, not a match | 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.
- roustaboutESCO 8113.6Same scope
Roustabouts maintain and repair oil field equipment and machinery using hand and power tools. They do general labor, such as cleaning, digging trenches, scraping and painting rig components.
- derrickhandESCO 8113.1Overlapping, not the same
Derrickhands guide the positions and movements of drill pipes. They control the automated pipe-handling equipment. They are often responsible for the condition of drilling fluids, or "mud".
- drill operatorESCO 8113.2Overlapping, not the same
Drill operators supervise a team during rigging and drilling operations. They monitor well activity and take measures in case of emergencies.
- oil rig motorhandESCO 8113.3Overlapping, not the same
Oil rig motorhands assume responsibility for the engines powering the drilling equipment. They ensure that all other rig equipment operates correctly.
- 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.
- well-diggerESCO 8113.9Overlapping, not the same
Well-diggers operate drilling machinery and equipment to create and maintain wells for use in extracting ore and other liquids and gases. They record operations, maintain equipment, seal unused wells and prevent ground contamination.
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 | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| F1404 | Technicien / Technicienne de forage pétrole et gaz | 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 | Related, not a match |
| 9603 | Peones de la minería, canteras y otras industrias extractivas | Related, not a match |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 21111 | Berufe im Berg- und Tagebau - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 21112 | Berufe im Berg- und Tagebau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 | Related, not a match |
| 646 | 採油・天然ガス採取機械運転従事者 | Related, not a match |
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