TransportationO*NET: 53-7072.00
Will AI Replace Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers?
Tend, control, or operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps and manifold systems to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels and processes.
88out of 100
Critical Risk
AI Risk Score
88/100
Risk Level
Critical
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
10
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Monitor gauges and flowmeters and inspect equipment to ensure that tank levels, temperatures, chemical amounts, and pressures are at specified levels, reporting abnormalities as necessary.
- ▸Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
- ▸Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of interconnections and capacities of pipelines, valve manifolds, pumps, and tankage.
- ▸Tend vessels that store substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials, checking levels of substances by using calibrated rods or by reading mercury gauges and tank charts.
- ▸Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels, using hand tools and equipment.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (5)
- Monitor gauges and flowmeters and inspect equipment to ensure that tank levels, temperatures, chemical amounts, and pressures are at specified levels, reporting abnormalities as necessary.
- Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, stocks used, gauging results, and operating times.
- Plan movement of products through lines to processing, storage, and shipping units, using knowledge of interconnections and capacities of pipelines, valve manifolds, pumps, and tankage.
- Tend vessels that store substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials, checking levels of substances by using calibrated rods or by reading mercury gauges and tank charts.
- Read operating schedules or instructions or receive verbal orders to determine amounts to be pumped.
👤Requires Humans (1)
- Clean, lubricate, and repair pumps and vessels, using hand tools and equipment.
⚡AI-Assisted (4)
- Turn valves and start pumps to start or regulate flows of substances such as gases, liquids, slurries, or powdered materials.
- Communicate with other workers, using signals, radios, or telephones, to start and stop flows of materials or substances.
- Connect hoses and pipelines to pumps and vessels prior to material transfer, using hand tools.
- Test materials and solutions, using testing equipment.
Key Skills Analysis
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.88/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Troubleshooting
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
InstructingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Related Occupations
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
86/100 — Critical Risk
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
86/100 — Critical Risk
Wellhead Pumpers
86/100 — Critical Risk
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
81/100 — Critical Risk
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
87/100 — Critical Risk
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers have a critical risk of AI replacement with a score of 88/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research