Will “Drilling Machine Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
85% Chance of Automation
“Drilling Machine 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
- 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 “Drilling Machine Operator”
- Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
- Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
- Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
- Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- Fabricate well casings.
- Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
- Document geological formations encountered during work.
- Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
- Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
- Design well pumping systems.
- Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
- Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
- Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
- 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.
- Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
- Record drilling progress and geological data.
- 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.
- Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.
- Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes.
- Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- Signal crane operators to move equipment.
- Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
- 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 machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
- Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
Related Technology & Tools
- Backhoe-equipped tractors
- Handheld remote thermometers
- Mud guns
- Mud balances
- Water monitoring samplers
- Digital video cameras
- Drill pipe tongs
- Truck-mounted water pumps
- Bobcats
- Earth drilling machines
- Personal computers
- Downhole hammers
- Mud pumping equipment
- Tablet computers
- Shale shakers
- Work trucks
- Drilling collars
- Mud rotary drills
- Core drill rigs
- Laptop computers
- Water test kits
- Lube guns
- Chain slings
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Water logging tools
- Truck mounted cranes
- Adjustable combination wrenches
- Grout pumps
- Water level meters
- Power augers
- Air rotary drills
- Mud mixers
- Downhole well testing equipment
- Cable tool drills
- Rotary drilling tools
- Pipe retrieval fishing tools
- Water sampling bailers
- Portable air compressors
- Alternating current AC generators
- Desanders
- Field forklifts
- Submerged arc welding tools
- Precision levels
- Trenchers
- Marsh funnels
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Excel
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Word