Construction and Well Drillers

Career summary

#update review 3/20/19 lh

Construction and well drillers may drive trucks with equipment to sites. If sites are hard to reach, equipment may be flown in by helicopter. Drillers place, level, and stabilize drills. They check how deep to dig and at what angle. They control the speed of the drill, monitor how deep it has gone, and decide when to add a longer drill bit. When the drill bit gets too hot, they put slush or water into the well to cool it off.

During the drilling, construction and well drillers monitor the process by watching and listening. They listen to the tone of the drill to determine what layer of earth they are digging through. Drillers sometimes change drill bits depending on the earth. They use the sound of the drill to know when it has reached a tough layer, and can decide if they need to make any changes.

Drilling takes place in many different locations. Construction and well drillers deal with a variety of surfaces and soil textures. These could range from clay or sand to lava or snow.

Some construction and well drillers are also called core drill operators. They extract a sample of the earth for testing. Usually these samples are taken by companies that are looking for a certain type of ore or material. It is important for core drill operators to get samples that accurately reflect the area and depth of the location they are drilling. Core drill operators evaluate samples to determine what layer of rock they came from. They record where they drilled and what they think the samples contain. They may send the samples to a lab to be tested.

Some construction drillers make holes to put up telephone poles or create small tunnels that run parallel to the ground. They use a variety of equipment. They may operate a hoist to lift line poles into position. They also use machines and augers that flush out cuttings from the drill hole.

All construction and well drillers maintain and repair the equipment they use.

Related careers

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Farm Equipment Mechanics
• Gas and Oil Drillers
• General Construction Workers
• Highway Maintenance Workers
• Loggers
• Machinists
• Material Moving Machine Operators
• Metal and Plastic Processing Workers
• Paving Equipment Operators
• Pipelayers

Military careers

• Construction Equipment Operators

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to construction and well drillers.

• Drive or guide trucks or other vehicle-mounted equipment into position.
• Level or stabilize rig.
• Assemble and position drilling machine.
• Verify depth and level of boring position.
• Start, stop, and control drilling speed.
• Monitor drilling and changes in surfaces drilled through.
• Change drill bits, or add extra lengths to drill rod, as bit advances.
• Pour water into well or pump water into well to cool drill bit and remove drillings.
• Withdraw drill rod from hole to extract core sample. Withdraw augers to force dirt from holes.
• Regulate air pressure and downward pressure, depending on the material being drilled.
• Inspect core sample to identify type of earth or to send to laboratory for analysis.
• Record drilling progress and geological data.
• Maintain and repair drilling machinery.
• Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
• Design well pumping systems.
• May drive trucks or tractors to and from work sites.

Common work activities

Construction and well drillers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Control machines and processes
• Repair and maintain mechanical equipment
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Get information needed to do the job
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Handle and move objects
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Evaluate information against standards
• Assist and care for others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Think creatively
• Teach others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Schedule work and activities
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Monitor and control resources
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, construction and well drillers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a medium level of contact with others.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.
• Communicate with others mostly by telephone and face-to-face discussions.
• Often work as part of a team.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of co-workers.

Physical work conditions

• Almost always work outdoors. They infrequently spend time in offices.
• Often wear hard hats and work gloves.
• Are often exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous conditions, situations, and equipment. There is some possibility of moderate injury.
• Are often exposed to loud sounds and noises.
• Are often exposed to contaminants.
• Must sometimes work in extremely bright or dim lighting.
• Sometimes must get into awkward positions to reach cramped work places.
• Sometimes must reach high places to complete tasks.
• Are sometimes exposed to whole body vibrations.
• Often work in an open vehicle or equipment while on the job.
• Travel to and from work sites in a truck or van.

Work performance

• Must keep up with the speed of the equipment and machinery.
• Must fully complete and be accurate in their work. Well and core drillers must get a good core sample. If they do not, it could cause serious time delays.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Often make decisions that affect others. They often don't seek input from anyone before deciding a course of action.
• Determine most of their daily tasks and goals without talking to anyone first.
• Work in a stressful atmosphere in which deadlines must be met.

Hours/travel

• May travel to work sites. Some companies have international sites as well as those in the US.

Physical demands

Construction and well drillers frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Bend or twist their body.

It is important for construction and well drillers to be able to:

• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for construction and well drillers to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• See objects in very low light.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.

Skills and abilities

Construction and well drillers need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Understand written information.

Reason and problem solve

• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Operate and control equipment.
• Maintain equipment on a routine basis. Determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.
• Determine the tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Construction Trades
• Heavy Equipment Operations

Training

To work as a construction and well driller, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

A few construction and well drillers gain skills for this job through formal training. You can take courses at professional-technical or two-year schools. Courses in shop, general math, and drafting may be helpful. A few community colleges offer programs in drilling.

On-the-job training

Most construction and well drillers learn their skills informally on the job. You may start as a helper and learn skills from an experienced worker. Training may last up to one year although shorter training periods, such as three to six months, is more common.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be construction equipment operators. This occupation includes well drillers. Training lasts from four to 12 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Washington apprenticeships

In Washington, most well drillers acquire necessary skills through on-the-job training or a two-year apprenticeship program.

For further information on apprenticeships in Washington, contact:

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
Apprenticeship Program 
PO Box 44530
Olympia, WA 98504-4530
360.902.5320

#Verified address, etc, ok 3/30/07 lh. Checked again 3/18/08, 3/10/10, 3/29/16, 3/6/18 cj.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Blueprint Reading
• Diesel Mechanics and Repair
• Driver Education

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers prefer to hire construction and well drillers who have a high school diploma or equivalent. If the job requires driving a truck, employers look for drillers who have a driver's license. Employers may also look for construction skills and mechanical abilities.

Costs to workers

Union workers must pay an initiation fee and monthly dues.

Licensing/certification

Well drillers must be licensed by the State of Washington. The five types of licenses available are water well operator trainee, resource protection well operator trainee, water well operator, resource protection well operator, and conditional license for water or resource protection wells. State licensing fees are $75 for each application and $75 per license for a two-year renewal. Licensing requirements vary, so contact the Department of Ecology for more details:

Washington State Department of Ecology
Well Construction and Licensing Coordinator 
PO Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
360.407.6648

In addition to the specific requirements of each type of license, applicants must:

• pass a written exam (two exams are offered: water well drillers and resource protection well drillers);
• pass an on-site field exam;
• provide recent color photo of applicant; and
• complete 14 credits of continuing education every two years for renewal.

Employees should have a good driving record and may need to be licensed to operate certain pieces of equipment.

Well drillers who drill to test water for environmental purposes may be required by employers to have the following:

• a combination driver's license;
• a current first aid card; and
• certification of 40 hours of hazardous materials training.

State law requires well drillers who do pump and piping work on domestic and irrigation water systems to get both plumbing and electrical licenses or certification. Under this law, only properly licensed contractors and individuals may put in an electric pump motor in a well or do the related electrical or plumbing work. Workers can get a combined plumbing and electrical certificate. For more information on these requirements, contact the Department of Ecology Well Drillers' program at the address listed above.

#Added information on new state law for plumbing and electrical licenses 11/13/06, cj. Added info link here for IA 3/6/18, cj: http://www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/Plumbing/Certification/WellDriller/

#Made some minor changes to state  DOE contact info & added photo requirement; rest looks ok 3/6/18 cj. 3/20/19 lh

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by the experience level of the worker. In addition, drillers who frequently work overtime receive higher monthly wages.

Employers may pay for food and lodging while workers are traveling to different work sites. Some companies also provide benefits for full-time employees. These benefits may include health, dental, and retirement plans. They may also cover vacation and sick time.

Employment and outlook

State Outlook

In Washington, the outlook for construction and well drillers is tied closely to the outlook for new construction, since many new houses need wells. Some demand is created by irrigation well drilling in Central Washington. Job growth for drillers of new water wells may be affected by issues related to water rights, salmon and other fish habitat protection and conservation, and growth management. More work is expected in drilling wells for monitoring ground water. Drilling at hazardous sites or sites with potential contamination will require safety training.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Water and sewer utility companies
• Water well drilling companies
• Mining companies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will grow. Drilling for natural gas has increased in the US. New jobs will be available in parts of the country where this drilling takes place. Drillers who drill water wells will also see job growth.

Other resources

National Drilling Association 
3053 Nationwide Parkway
Brunswick, OH 44212
877.632.4748

National Ground Water Association 
601 Dempsey Road
Westerville, OH 43081
800.551.7379

References

Career cluster

• Architecture and Construction

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (47-5021.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Earth-boring-machine Operator (859.682-010) 
• Foundation-drill Operator (859.682-014) 
• Horizontal-earth-boring-machine Operator (850.662-010) 
• Rock-drill Operator I (850.683-034) 
• Rock-drill Operator II (850.662-014) 
• Well-drill Operator (859.362-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Investigative/Conventional

COPSystem

• Technology Skilled