What You Need to Know About Rotary Drill Operator
Drill Operator Job Description Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
A Day in the Life of a Drill Operator
- Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
- Lower and explode charges in boreholes to start flow of oil from wells.
- Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables.
- Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
- Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools.
- Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud.
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Skills Needed to be a Drill Operator
Rotary Drill Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Types of Rotary Drill Operator
- Daylight Driller
- Cable Driller
- Oil Well Cable Tool Driller
- Natural Gas Shothole Driller
- Rotary Drill Operator
Is There Going to be Demand for Rotary Drill Operators?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 16,700 jobs in the United States for Rotary Drill Operator. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 24.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,100 new jobs for Rotary Drill Operator by 2026. There will be an estimated 2,600 positions for Drill Operator per year.
The states with the most job growth for Drill Operator are Wyoming, North Dakota, and Georgia. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, Nebraska, or Indiana. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Drill Operator Salary
The typical yearly salary for Rotary Drill Operators is somewhere between $32,110 and $87,790.
Rotary Drill Operators who work in Alaska, Indiana, or North Dakota, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Rotary Drill Operators in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $42,450 |
| Alaska | $74,290 |
| Arizona | $48,650 |
| Arkansas | $43,870 |
| California | $66,630 |
| Colorado | $55,870 |
| Florida | $47,130 |
| Georgia | $34,310 |
| Illinois | $45,100 |
| Indiana | $67,000 |
| Kansas | $44,920 |
| Louisiana | $52,520 |
| Maryland | $56,540 |
| Michigan | $41,080 |
| New Mexico | $44,540 |
| New York | $53,120 |
| North Dakota | $66,440 |
| Ohio | $45,210 |
| Oklahoma | $57,620 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,040 |
| Texas | $56,490 |
| Utah | $56,700 |
| Virginia | $52,530 |
| West Virginia | $55,790 |
| Wyoming | $61,510 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Rotary Drill Operators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Rotary Drill Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Becoming a Drill Operator
Are there Rotary Drill Operators education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Rotary Drill Operators?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Rotary Drill Operator may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Tomwsulcer via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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