SOC 47-5023.00

    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.

    Median pay
    $60,190
    Growth
    +3.6%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    1,400
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $44,460
    Median
    $60,190
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $83,800
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    19,450 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Earth drillers operate machinery to tap underground water, collect soil samples, and prepare sites for mining or construction. This career offers a median annual pay of $60,190.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What earth drillers, except oil and gas do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Workers in this field operate specialized machinery, such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic drills, to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, extract core samples for testing, or prepare ground for explosives. Day-to-day tasks involve controlling machines, inspecting equipment, and performing general physical activities. Drillers must also handle and move objects, operate transport vehicles, and perform routine mechanical maintenance and repairs.

    Success in this role requires strong skills in operation monitoring, equipment control, and critical thinking to solve complex problems on site. Key knowledge areas include mechanical systems, public safety, transportation, and mathematics. Because the work is hands-on and outdoors, it appeals to individuals with realistic interests. Successful operators demonstrate dependability, cautiousness, attention to detail, and high stress tolerance while monitoring processes and surroundings to ensure safety.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a high school diploma. Most workers prepare through some on-the-job training or previous work experience. Relevant college majors and training programs that can lead to this field include ground transportation and plumbing and related water supply services.

    While not always mandatory, some states list a license for this work. Additionally, professionals can earn the Certified Well Driller credential through the National Ground Water Association to demonstrate their expertise.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these drillers is $60,190. Earnings can vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $44,460 and the highest 10% earning more than $83,800.

    There are 19,450 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 3.6%, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth and replacement needs are expected to result in 1,400 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    44 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    2 / 100
    Social (S)
    4 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    12 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    45 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    90
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    88
    Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    86
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    80
    Getting Information
    78
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    74
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    72
    Handling and Moving Objects
    72
    Performing General Physical Activities
    71
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    71
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operations Monitoring
    • Operation and Control
    • Critical Thinking
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Monitoring
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Coordination
    • Equipment Selection
    • Quality Control Analysis

    Knowledge

    • Mechanical
    • Administration and Management
    • Transportation
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Design
    • Mathematics
    • Production and Processing
    • Law and Government
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • English Language

    Abilities

    • Control Precision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Reaction Time
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Depth Perception
    • Near Vision
    • Rate Control
    • Perceptual Speed
    • Deductive Reasoning

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Attention to Detail
    • Perseverance
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Integrity
    • Self-Control
    • Self-Confidence
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Adaptability

    Also called

    Auger Operator · Blast Driller · Blast Hole Driller · Boring Machine Operator · Churn Drill Operator · Churn Driller · Construction Driller · Construction Well Drill Operator · Core Driller · Debris Monitor

    Career pathway

    From your interests to earth drillers, except oil and gas

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$60,190 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Ivy Tech Community College

      Indianapolis, IN · Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $94,410
      4 yrs after
      $93,701
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2
      Pennsylvania College of Technology

      Williamsport, PA · Ground Transportation · Associate

      1 yr after
      $54,938
      4 yrs after
      $62,389
      Median debt
      $12,000
    3. 3New England Institute of Technology logo
      New England Institute of Technology

      East Greenwich, RI · Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $49,923
      4 yrs after
      $54,989
      Median debt
      $12,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What earth drillers, except oil and gas may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
    • Well Drilling/Driller

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    34 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about earth drillers, except oil and gas

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this occupation are also referred to as auger operators, blast hole drillers, boring machine operators, construction well drill operators, and core drillers.

    What kind of training or education is required to start?

    Most workers enter the field with a high school diploma. They typically gain the necessary skills through on-the-job training and practical experience.

    Are there professional certifications available for earth drillers?

    Yes, workers can obtain the Certified Well Driller credential from the National Ground Water Association. Some states may also list specific licensing requirements for this profession.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.