Earth Drillers
O*NET title: Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface 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. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.
Also called: Auger Operator, Blast Driller, Blast Hole Driller, Boring Machine Operator, Churn Drill Operator, Churn Driller
Median pay
$60,190
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$44,460 – $83,800
People employed
19,450
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 2.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 3.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 4.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 5.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 6.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 7.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 8.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Long hours on your feet
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Earth Drillers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (48 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What earth drillers do
- 01Fabricate well casings.
- 02Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- 03Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- 04Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
- 05Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- 06Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- Administration and Management
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Design
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from earth drillers
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators88% · −1%
- Pile Driver Operators85% · +22%
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators81% · +16%
- Hoist and Winch Operators81% · −6%
- Wellhead Pumpers80% · +16%
Change into earth drillers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Dredge Operators85% · $49,640
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators85% · $59,850
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners85% · $49,880
- Logging Equipment Operators84% · $49,740
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators82% · $70,070
Majors that lead here
- Well Drilling/Driller
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.