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Geotechnical and Environmental Services
Terracon, WSP, AECOM
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Earth drillers set up and run rigs that bore holes for water wells, foundations, and site investigation work. The job stands out because it mixes machine operation, basic mechanical repair, and careful recordkeeping on changing job sites. The tradeoff is straightforward: you can get into the field without a four-year degree, but the work is physical, weather-dependent, and tied to a job market that is only growing slowly.
Also known as Water Well DrillerDrill Rig OperatorGeotechnical DrillerFoundation DrillerBorehole Driller
Median Salary
$59,600
Mean $63,260
U.S. Workforce
~17K
1.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.9%
18.3K to 18.8K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~17K workers, with a median annual pay of $59,600 and roughly 1.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 18.3 K in 2024 to 18.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Drilling Helper and can progress toward Drilling Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Drill Rig Controls, Operations Monitoring & Site Setup, Machine Operation & Control Systems, and Heavy Equipment Maintenance, Hydraulics & Lubrication, paired with soft skills such as Attention to detail, Communication, and Teamwork.
Core Responsibilities
- Set up drilling rigs and attach the parts needed to start boring a hole.
- Move truck-mounted equipment into place, level it, and make sure the rig is stable before drilling begins.
- Drive drilling trucks and other equipment between job sites.
- Run the rig controls to keep the drill lined up and working smoothly.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set up drilling rigs and attach the parts needed to start boring a hole.
02 Move truck-mounted equipment into place, level it, and make sure the rig is stable before drilling begins.
03 Drive drilling trucks and other equipment between job sites.
04 Run the rig controls to keep the drill lined up and working smoothly.
05 Clear out cuttings and dust from the hole as drilling progresses.
06 Keep the equipment working by replacing worn parts, greasing machinery, and writing down drilling progress and ground conditions.
Industries That Hire
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Foundation and Specialty Construction
Keller, Nicholson Construction, Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring
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Water Well and Utility Infrastructure
Layne, American Water, Veolia
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Mining and Quarrying
Freeport-McMoRan, Martin Marietta, Vulcan Materials
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started without a four-year degree, and 72.77% of workers enter with just a high school diploma.
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Pay is solid for a trade role, with median annual earnings of $59.6K and mean pay of $63.26K.
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There are still openings coming up, with about 1.7K annual openings projected.
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The work builds practical mechanical skills that can transfer to heavy equipment, construction, and supervision jobs.
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If you like hands-on work, each site is different, so you are not stuck doing the same indoor routine every day.
Challenges
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Growth is modest at 2.9% through 2034, with employment rising only from 18.3K to 18.8K, so the field is not expanding fast.
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The work is physically demanding and often dirty, with heavy parts, vibration, dust, mud, and constant equipment handling.
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Long-term on-the-job training means it can take a while before you are trusted to run jobs on your own.
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Demand can swing with construction, water, and site-investigation budgets, so the work is more exposed to project cycles than some trades.
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The career ceiling is limited unless you move into supervision or equipment management, and remote work is essentially not an option.
Career Progression
Drilling Helper
0-2 years
$32K-$42K
New workers help move gear, clean equipment, and learn how rigs, tools, and site safety procedures work.
Earth Driller
2-6 years
$48K-$68K
Drillers handle rig setup, operate the machine, record ground conditions, and keep the equipment running during a full shift.
Lead Driller THIS ROLE
6-10 years
$69K-$88K
Lead drillers coordinate the crew, make field decisions, solve equipment problems, and keep jobs moving on schedule.
Drilling Supervisor
10+ years
$90K-$115K
Supervisors manage multiple crews or projects, handle planning and safety, and spend less time at the controls themselves.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 72.77% of workers in this role.
Long-term on-the-job training
Many workers learn the trade by starting as a helper and building skills on active job sites under experienced drill crews.
Post-secondary certificate in drilling, construction, or heavy equipment
A smaller path, held by 12.15% of workers, for people who want more structured training before entering the field.
Less than high school diploma with field experience
A minority path, held by 15.07% of workers, though it usually depends on proving yourself through hands-on work.
Key Skills
Technical
Drill Rig Controls, Operations Monitoring & Site Setup 80%
Machine Operation & Control Systems 78%
Heavy Equipment Maintenance, Hydraulics & Lubrication 65%
Geological Logging & Drilling Records 65%
Site Monitoring, Inspection & Troubleshooting 62%
Truck-Mounted Rig Transport, Augers, Casings & Hand Tools 60%
Soft Skills
Attention to detailCommunicationTeamworkProblem solvingSituational awarenessDependability Job Outlook and Trends
+2.9%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 18.3K to 18.8 K over the next decade, representing 2.9% growth. Around 1.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.