Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
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 called: Blast Hole Driller · Diamond Driller · Drill Operator · Driller · Hard Rock Drill Operator · Highwall Drill Operator
Median pay (national)
$59,600
$44,450–$87,760 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
17,410
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.9%
~1,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for earth drillers, except oil and gas shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $87,760 versus $44,450 at the bottom 10% — 2.0x. The median of $59,600 leaves roughly 47% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.9% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 48 states with released data, Massachusetts pays the most for this role (median $80,780, +36% vs the national median), while West Virginia sits lowest at $46,920 — a 72% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- 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.
Tools & technology
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Administration and Management
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Design
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Law and Government