Will “Heavy Equipment Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

85% Chance of Automation

“Heavy Equipment 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…

Tasks for “Heavy Equipment Operator”

Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes.
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.
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.
Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
Design well pumping systems.
Observe electronic graph recorders and flow meters that monitor the water used to flush debris from holes.
Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
Record drilling progress and geological data.
Document geological formations encountered during work.
Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
Fabricate well casings.
Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.
Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
Monitor drilling operations, checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.
Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
Operate hoists to lift power line poles into position.
Signal crane operators to move equipment.
Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples.
Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.

Related Technology & Tools

Air rotary drills
Drill pipe tongs
Portable air compressors
Downhole well testing equipment
Handheld remote thermometers
Cable tool drills
Submerged arc welding tools
Mud guns
Field forklifts
Personal computers
Mud mixers
Digital video cameras
Global positioning system GPS receivers
Water logging tools
Shale shakers
Water level meters
Trenchers
Water monitoring samplers
Grout pumps
Power augers
Adjustable combination wrenches
Drilling collars
Rotary drilling tools
Truck-mounted water pumps
Lube guns
Pipe retrieval fishing tools
Bobcats
Desanders
Water test kits
Downhole hammers
Earth drilling machines
Backhoe-equipped tractors
Mud balances
Alternating current AC generators
Mud pumping equipment
Truck mounted cranes
Core drill rigs
Chain slings
Water sampling bailers
Mud rotary drills
Precision levels
Tablet computers
Laptop computers
Marsh funnels
Work trucks

Microsoft Word
Global positioning system GPS software
Data entry software
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Excel