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For Educators: Military Resources
For Educators: Military Resources

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

Median Salary
56,660
Job Outlook
N/A

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

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.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$40,180

10%

$56,660

Median

$93,610

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • High school

    72%

  • Less than high school

    15%

  • Post-secondary certificate

    12%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

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

Skills and Interest

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Mechanical
  • Transportation
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Design
  • Engineering and Technology

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Realistic

You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.

Conventional

You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.

Investigative

You love figuring out how things work and researching subjects that interest you.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.