Wellhead Pumpers
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 53-7073.00
Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.
- 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
16 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 |
|---|---|
Monitor control panels during pumping operations to ensure that materials are being pumped at the correct pressure, density, rate, and concentration.O*NET Task ID 5013 | 0.0 |
Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks.O*NET Task ID 5014 | 0.0 |
Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment.O*NET Task ID 5015 | 0.0 |
Repair gas and oil meters and gauges.O*NET Task ID 5016 | 0.0 |
Unload and assemble pipes and pumping equipment, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 5017 | 0.0 |
Attach pumps and hoses to wellheads.O*NET Task ID 5018 | 0.0 |
Start compressor engines and divert oil from storage tanks into compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil.O*NET Task ID 5019 | 0.0 |
Open valves to return compressed gas to bottoms of specified wells to repressurize them and force oil to surface.O*NET Task ID 5020 | 0.0 |
Supervise oil pumpers and other workers engaged in producing oil from wells.O*NET Task ID 5021 | 0.0 |
Drive trucks to transport high-pressure pumping equipment, and chemicals, fluids, or gases to be pumped into wells.O*NET Task ID 5022 | 0.0 |
Prepare trucks and equipment necessary for the type of pumping service required.O*NET Task ID 5023 | 0.0 |
Control pumping and blending equipment to acidize, cement, or fracture gas or oil wells and permeable rock formations.O*NET Task ID 5024 | 0.0 |
Mix acids, chemicals, or dry cement as required for a specific job.O*NET Task ID 5025 | 0.0 |
Monitor pumps and flow lines for gas and fluid leaks.O*NET Task ID 21159 | 0.0 |
Gauge oil and gas production.O*NET Task ID 21160 | 0.0 |
Change water filters.O*NET Task ID 21161 | 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 (14)
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 |
|---|---|
| Monitor control panels during pumping operations to ensure that materials are being pumped at the correct pressure, density, rate, and concentration. | Core |
| Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks. | Core |
| Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment. | Core |
| Repair gas and oil meters and gauges. | Core |
| Start compressor engines and divert oil from storage tanks into compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil. | Core |
| Monitor pumps and flow lines for gas and fluid leaks. | Core |
| Gauge oil and gas production. | Core |
| Unload and assemble pipes and pumping equipment, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Attach pumps and hoses to wellheads. | Supplemental |
| Open valves to return compressed gas to bottoms of specified wells to repressurize them and force oil to surface. | Supplemental |
| Supervise oil pumpers and other workers engaged in producing oil from wells. | Supplemental |
| Prepare trucks and equipment necessary for the type of pumping service required. | Supplemental |
| Mix acids, chemicals, or dry cement as required for a specific job. | Supplemental |
| Change water filters. | Supplemental |
1.03/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks. | E2 structured facilities |
| Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment. | E0 none |
| Repair gas and oil meters and gauges. | E0 none |
| Start compressor engines and divert oil from storage tanks into compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil. | E2 structured facilities |
| Monitor pumps and flow lines for gas and fluid leaks. | E2 structured facilities |
| Gauge oil and gas production. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Unload and assemble pipes and pumping equipment, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Attach pumps and hoses to wellheads. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Open valves to return compressed gas to bottoms of specified wells to repressurize them and force oil to surface. | E2 structured facilities |
| Prepare trucks and equipment necessary for the type of pumping service required. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mix acids, chemicals, or dry cement as required for a specific job. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Change water filters. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 18K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 18K
- Change (2025–35)
- -2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $69,960
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 83111 | 원유 처리 장치 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | reviewed |
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.
- petroleum pump system operatorESCO 3134.4Same scope
Petroleum pump system operators tend pumps that keep the circulation of oil and derived products running smoothly. They monitor the flow within the pipes at a refinery and test the equipment to ensure minimum disruptions. Pump systems operators work from a highly automated control room, where they communicate with other workers to coordinate pump activities. Pump system operators undertake minor repairs and maintenance, and report as called for.
- 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".
- gaugerESCO 8131.8Overlapping, not the same
Gaugers test oil during the processing and before dispatch. They control pumping systems and regulate the flow of oil into the pipelines.
- 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.
- pipeline pump operatorESCO 8113.4Overlapping, not the same
Pipeline pump operators tend pump equipment and systems to transfer liquids and substances (e.g. such as chemical solutions, crude oil, gases, and others) from one point to the next. They operate hoses, pumps, and other equipment according to the good to be transferred. They ensure smooth circulation and flow of the goods in the pipelines.
- roughneckESCO 8113.5Overlapping, not the same
Roughnecks make or break connections when the drill pipe is tripped in or out of the drilling hole. They assemble and disassemble pipes and drills, and collect core samples. They maintain and repair the equipment on the drilling floor.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| F1211 | Responsable d'exploitation de gisements pétrole et gaz | Related, not a match |
| F1403 | Foreur / Foreuse pétrole et gaz | Related, not a match |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3134 | Técnicos de refinerías de petróleo y gas natural | Related, not a match |
| 8113 | Sondistas y trabajadores afines | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 21112 | Berufe im Berg- und Tagebau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 21111 | Berufe im Berg- und Tagebau - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 646 | 採油・天然ガス採取機械運転従事者 | 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