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