Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas score 6 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #804 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 19 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 1 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

6/ 100

Low

Rank: #804of 923 jobs
US workers: 43,140BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $58,160a year
In real AI use: 1 of 19tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (5%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 18 (95%)

Prepare reports of services rendered, tools used, or time required, for billing purposes.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Confer with others to gather information regarding pipe or tool sizes or borehole conditions in wells.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Interpret instrument readings to ascertain the depth of obstruction.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Thread cables through derrick pulleys, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Select fishing methods or tools for removing obstacles such as liners, broken casing, screens, or drill pipe.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Close and seal wells no longer in use.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Direct drilling crews performing activities such as assembling and connecting pipe, applying weights to drill pipes, or drilling around lodged obstacles.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Apply green technologies or techniques, such as the use of coiled tubing, slim-hole drilling, horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, or gas lift systems.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Operate specialized equipment to remove obstructions by backing off or severing pipes by chemical or explosive action.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Perforate well casings or sidewalls of boreholes with explosive charges.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Examine unserviceable wells to determine actions to be taken to improve well conditions.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Monitor sound wave-generating or detecting mechanisms to determine well fluid levels.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Insert detection instruments into wells with obstructions.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about service unit operators, oil and gas and AI

Will AI replace service unit operators, oil and gas?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas score 6 out of 100 (low exposure), #804 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 1 of the job's 19 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 18 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which service unit operators, oil and gas tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Prepare reports of services rendered, tools used, or time required, for billing purposes".

Which service unit operators, oil and gas tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools"; "Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs"; "Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 1 of the 19 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as service unit operators, oil and gas, and what do they earn?

About 43,140 people in the US, with median pay of $58,160 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.