Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Human Advantage 64%
Significant human skills needed
AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.3 / 10
Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.
Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.
Also Known As: Auger Operator, Blast Driller, Blast Hole Driller, Boring Machine Operator, Churn Drill Operator, Churn Driller, Construction Driller, Construction Well Drill Operator +55 more
Core Tasks
- Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
- Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
- Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
- Document geological formations encountered during work.
- Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
- Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
- Record drilling progress and geological data.
- Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
Supplemental Tasks (14)
- Fabricate well casings.
- Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
- Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.
- Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
- Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
- Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
- Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
- Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
- Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.
- Design well pumping systems.
- Signal crane operators to move equipment.
- Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples.
- Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.
- Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes.
Education & Training
Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (4)
Tools & Equipment (45)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Resource Extraction Advanced Manufacturing
Zone 2
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas You are here
Zone 3
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 76% match
Zone 4
Zone 5
Hydrologists 73% match
Equipment Operation & Maintenance Advanced Manufacturing
Zone 1
Logging Equipment Operators 78% match
Zone 2
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas You are here
Zone 3
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