Earth Drillers

realistic interests machine clean equipment truck remove core samples concrete rotary drill regulate air pressure operate controls

Blast Hole Driller, Drill Operator, Driller, Well Driller

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
  • Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
  • Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical
  • design

Business

  • management

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Skills

Basic Skills

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • hold or move items with your hands

Controlled Movement

  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking

Visual Understanding

  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Initiative
  • Independence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Mobile location based services software

  • Global positioning system GPS software

Office suite software

  • Microsoft Office software Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
no high school diploma/GED
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about earth drillers.