Petroleum Engineers
Architecture and Engineering · SOC 17-2171
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 17-2171 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 0.0%
- Low · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 50/100
- Moderate friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $144,910
- H-1B offered wage $135,138; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- 2,500
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +1.3%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 90
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 3,128 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
Transition context
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~52.8% of this role but only ~0% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.
Common titles: Completion Engineer, Drilling Engineer, Engineer, Operations Engineer, Petroleum Engineer, Petroleum Production Engineer
Representative Tasks
- •Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
- •Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
- •Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
- •Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
- •Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Direct energy production or management activities.
- •Determine operational methods.
- •Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
- •Develop technical methods or processes.
- •Monitor the productivity or efficiency of industrial operations.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 4.5% |
| Outlook | Average | 15% Bright |
| Median Salary | $144,910 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |