Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 6/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas:
42.4%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forRoustabouts, Oil and Gas
$47,510 median salary•4,300 annual openings•SOC Code: 47-5071.00
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 5 sources.
Roustabout work is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI and robotics are already taking over a big chunk of the repetitive, physical tasks on the rig floor, like connecting pipes and inspecting equipment, but plenty of work still needs a human on the ground. Systems like robotic arms have automated up to 95% of rig floor activities on some rigs, which is a major shift, and that trend is only speeding up as companies look to cut costs and improve safety.
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Roustabout work is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI and robotics are already taking over a big chunk of the repetitive, physical tasks on the rig floor, like connecting pipes and inspecting equipment, but plenty of work still needs a human on the ground. Systems like robotic arms have automated up to 95% of rig floor activities on some rigs, which is a major shift, and that trend is only speeding up as companies look to cut costs and improve safety.
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Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Roustabouts, Oil and Gas jobs?
If you picture an oil rig, you probably imagine grease-covered workers wrestling pipes — but that image is changing fast. Fortune reports [1] that "the coverall-adorned roughnecks of yesteryear today are now much fewer and more likely to sit in data vans monitoring the computer screens instead of constantly configuring all the pipes and tools manually," with AI-controlled rigs now performing "autonomous geosteering" that drills thousands of feet underground without human involvement. The hands-on tasks that roustabouts do — connecting pipes, bolting equipment, and walking the deck — are being targeted by industrial robotic arms.
According to Drilling Contractor magazine (IADC) [2], NOV's ATOM RTX robotic arm system, paired with Precision Drilling's AlphaARMS software, automated 95% of rig floor activities on one Canadian land rig and eliminated over 70,000 manual touchpoints. For leak detection — another core roustabout task — Deloitte's 2026 Oil and Gas Outlook [3] notes operators are deploying "robotics, drones, and 'zero-touch' sensors for automated inspections," with early adopters seeing up to 40% fewer equipment failures.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas?
Adoption is moving quickly because the economic case is strong. Halliburton's April 2026 acquisition of automation specialist Sekal [4], reported by the SPE's Journal of Petroleum Technology, promises to cut well delivery time by up to 25%, and World Oil's coverage of ISG research [5] shows upstream operators are accelerating AI and predictive-maintenance software adoption due to "tighter margins, workforce constraints and more complex operating environments." Safety is another huge driver — robots can stay in the dangerous "red zone" so humans don't have to. That said, full replacement is unlikely soon.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [6] still projects about 10,600 oil and gas worker openings each year through 2034, mostly to replace retirees. Robotic rigs also require huge upfront capital, and many older wells and offshore platforms simply weren't built for them. The honest takeaway: routine, repetitive roustabout tasks are increasingly automated, but skills like troubleshooting unexpected problems, hands-on repair in messy real-world conditions, and supervising the robots themselves remain valuable.
Young workers who learn the digital side — sensors, drones, control software — will be the ones companies fight to hire.
Sources
Will AI replace Roustabouts, Oil and Gas?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Roustabout work is changing fast. Robotic arms like NOV's ATOM RTX system have already automated 95% of rig floor activities on some rigs, eliminating over 70,000 manual touchpoints [2]. Drones and zero-touch sensors are handling leak detection and inspections that workers used to do on foot [3]. The repetitive, predictable parts of this job are clearly in AI's crosshairs.
But full replacement is a long way off. Older wells and offshore platforms were never built for robotics, and the upfront capital costs are enormous. The BLS still projects around 10,600 openings per year through 2034, mostly to replace retirees [6]. That is real, steady demand, even if it is not growing fast. Our 42.4% AI Resilience Score reflects that picture: meaningful impact, but not a wipeout.
The workers who will thrive are the ones who learn the digital side of the job. Companies are accelerating adoption of AI and predictive-maintenance software because of tighter margins and workforce constraints [5]. That means roustabouts who understand sensors, drones, and control software become the people running the robots, not the ones replaced by them. The job is evolving, and that is actually an opportunity.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
As AI and automation reshape the oil and gas industry, roustabouts should view these changes as opportunities for growth. Articles highlight that while traditional roles may diminish, AI can enhance efficiency and safety on rigs, empowering workers to focus on higher-value tasks. For instance, SLB emphasizes using AI to reach oil reserves more effectively, which could lead to new roles in tech management. Embracing AI resilience will be crucial for students, equipping them to thrive in a transforming workforce.
SLB: Disrupting the Traditional Energy Industry Through AI ...
www.youtube.com • 7/20/2026
Artificial intelligence can help reach lucrative oil and gas reserves faster —technological advances SLB said will deliver more efficient and ...
AI & Technology Maturing the Oil and Gas Workforce
www.oilandgasadvancement.com • 7/20/2026
AI and technology usage is accelerating the speed of operations along with the safety at the rigs therefore reshaping the oil and gas workforce
Will AI Replace People in Oil and Gas?
www.rigzone.com • 7/20/2026
Mar 16, 2021 — AI is not going to replace people, but rather empower people to both be more effective and also – importantly – free time for more creative, higher-value ... Read more
The roughneck is slowly disappearing from the oilfield as AI and automation take over
fortune.com • 9/13/2025
Many thousands of energy jobs are shed amid lower oil prices, efficiency gains, consolidation, and the advent of autonomous AI drilling and...
Are these jobs the most at risk from AI chatbots?
ia.acs.org.au • 8/1/2025
Microsoft study explores where the tech is having an impact.
More Career Info
Career: Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
They help keep oil and gas operations running smoothly by assembling equipment, maintaining machinery, and cleaning work areas.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$47,510
Jobs (2024)
46,000
Growth (2024-34)
+2.5%
Annual Openings
4,300
Education
No formal educational credential
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.
2
Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete into forms to make foundations for wood or steel derricks.
3
Bolt together pump and engine parts.
4
Cut down and remove trees and brush to clear drill sites, to reduce fire hazards, and to make way for roads to sites.
5
Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
6
Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.
7
Clean up spilled oil by bailing it into barrels.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
