Will “Drill Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
85% Chance of Automation
“Drill Operator” 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.
Care to share? Click for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or XING. 👍
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
- Drill Hand
- 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 Operator”
- Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.
- Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- 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.
- Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
- Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
- Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- Record drilling progress and geological data.
- 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.
- Document geological formations encountered during work.
- Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
- Observe electronic graph recorders and flow meters that monitor the water used to flush debris from holes.
- Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples.
- Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
- Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
- Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
- Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
- Signal crane operators to move equipment.
- Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes.
- Operate hoists to lift power line poles into position.
- Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.
- Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
- Fabricate well casings.
- Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
- Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
- Design well pumping systems.
- Monitor drilling operations, checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.
Related Technology & Tools
- Water sampling bailers
- Rotary drilling tools
- Mud balances
- Desanders
- Water test kits
- Portable air compressors
- Mud mixers
- Tablet computers
- Chain slings
- Field forklifts
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Downhole hammers
- Digital video cameras
- Marsh funnels
- Drill pipe tongs
- Air rotary drills
- Core drill rigs
- Backhoe-equipped tractors
- Downhole well testing equipment
- Cable tool drills
- Power augers
- Shale shakers
- Handheld remote thermometers
- Laptop computers
- Mud guns
- Work trucks
- Water monitoring samplers
- Lube guns
- Submerged arc welding tools
- Truck-mounted water pumps
- Drilling collars
- Water level meters
- Water logging tools
- Mud rotary drills
- Bobcats
- Pipe retrieval fishing tools
- Earth drilling machines
- Truck mounted cranes
- Alternating current AC generators
- Adjustable combination wrenches
- Precision levels
- Mud pumping equipment
- Grout pumps
- Trenchers
- Personal computers
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Office
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel