Construction & Extraction
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Also called: Blast Hole Driller, Diamond Driller, Drill Operator, Driller
US median pay
$60,190
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.6%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
1,400
19,500 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring4.0/5
- Operation and Control3.9/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.2/5
- Troubleshooting3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
- Equipment Selection3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
Knowledge
- Mechanical3.5/5
- Administration and Management3.3/5
- Transportation3.3/5
- Public Safety and Security3.3/5
- Design3.1/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma73%
- Less than high school15%
- Post-secondary certificate12%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.