Will “Hard Rock Drill Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

85% Chance of Automation

“Hard Rock 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…

Tasks for “Hard Rock Drill Operator”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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