Will “Drill Hand” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
85% Chance of Automation
“Drill Hand” will probably be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #488 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.
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Job Description
Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap sub-surface 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. May use explosives. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-5021.00
- The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 51,240.00
- The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 24.00
- Currently, there are 18,500 people on this job
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas”.
Also Known As…
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
- Well Driller
- Rock Drill Operator
- Overburden Drill Operator
- Highwall Drill Operator
- Hard Rock Drill Operator
- Driller
- Drill Operator
- Blasting Production Technician
- Blaster
- Blast Hole Driller
- Well Testing Operator
- Well Driller Helper
- Well Drill Operator
- Well Digger
- Water Well Driller
- Wash Driller
- Wagoner
- Wagon Driller
- Wagon Drill Operator
- Tunneling Machine Operator
- Test Driller
- Test Borer
- Stoper
- Soil Sampler
- Shot Core Drill Operator
- Raise Driller
- Post Hole Digging Machine Operator
- Post Hole Digger
- Operating Engineer
- Mine Equipment Operator
- Machine Driller
- Jumper
- Hydraulic Rock Drill Operator
- Horizontal Earth Boring Machine Operator
- Horizontal Drill Operator
- Hole Digger Operator
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Ground Water Contractor
- Geothermal Operating Engineer
- Geotechnical Operating Engineer
- Foundation Drill Operator
- Explosive Bore Hole Driller
- Environmental Sampler
- Electric Drill Operator
- Earth Boring Machine Operator
- Earth Auger Operator
- Drilling Machine Runner
- Drilling Machine Operator
- Drill Runner
- Directional Driller
- Diamond Driller
- Deep Well Contractor
- Core Sampler
- Core Driller
- Core Drill Operator
- Construction Driller
- Coal Mine Bore Hole Drill Operator
- Churn Driller
- Churn Drill Operator
- Boring Machine Operator
- Auger Operator
Tasks for “Drill Hand”
- Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
- Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
- Monitor drilling operations, checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.
- Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
- Observe electronic graph recorders and flow meters that monitor the water used to flush debris from holes.
- Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
- Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
- Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- Record drilling progress and geological data.
- Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.
- Signal crane operators to move equipment.
- Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
- Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
- Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
- Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples.
- Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
- Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
- Operate hoists to lift power line poles into position.
- Design well pumping systems.
- Document geological formations encountered during work.
- Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- Fabricate well casings.
- Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.
- Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes.
- Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
- Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
Related Technology & Tools
- Water monitoring samplers
- Mud balances
- Portable air compressors
- Adjustable combination wrenches
- Grout pumps
- Cable tool drills
- Shale shakers
- Water test kits
- Truck-mounted water pumps
- Water level meters
- Desanders
- Downhole hammers
- Mud guns
- Alternating current AC generators
- Marsh funnels
- Personal computers
- Submerged arc welding tools
- Downhole well testing equipment
- Mud pumping equipment
- Laptop computers
- Core drill rigs
- Chain slings
- Air rotary drills
- Rotary drilling tools
- Water sampling bailers
- Trenchers
- Power augers
- Lube guns
- Handheld remote thermometers
- Pipe retrieval fishing tools
- Field forklifts
- Earth drilling machines
- Drilling collars
- Truck mounted cranes
- Water logging tools
- Mud mixers
- Drill pipe tongs
- Backhoe-equipped tractors
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Mud rotary drills
- Digital video cameras
- Work trucks
- Bobcats
- Precision levels
- Tablet computers
- Microsoft Word
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Excel
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Microsoft Office