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