What is a Rotary Drill Operator?
Career 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.
Drill Operator Responsibilities
- Line drilled holes with pipes, and install all necessary hardware, to prepare new wells.
- Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools.
- Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools.
- Cap wells with packers, or turn valves, to regulate outflow of oil from wells.
- Bolt together pump and engine parts, and connect tanks and flow lines.
- Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
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Drill Operator Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Rotary Drill Operators say are important on the job.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
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.
Other Drill Operator Job Titles
- Back Up Worker
- Cable Tool Operator
- Drilling Machine Operator
- Tool Pusher
- Drilling Field Professional
Job 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,600 job openings in this field each 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.
How much do Rotary Drill Operators make 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 |
What Tools do Rotary Drill Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Rotary Drill Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
How to Become a Drill Operator
What kind of Rotary Drill Operator requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Rotary Drill Operators Are Employed
Rotary Drill Operators work in the following industries:
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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