As of June 2026, Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas has an AI-exposure score of 37/100 (Low exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
More exposed than 7% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$60,190. About 1,700 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Construction roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as durable (75%).
- Document geological formations encountered during work.
- Record drilling progress and geological data.
- Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
- Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
- Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- 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.
- Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
- Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.
- Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
- Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
- Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
- Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
- Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
- Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
- Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- Fabricate well casings.
- Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
Safer adjacent roles
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