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The Complete Guide to Becoming An Earth Driller, Except Oil and Gas
Know exactly what the job involves, what it pays at every level, and whether you have what it takes before you spend a dollar on training.
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: What Does a Earth Driller, Except Oil and Gas Actually Do?
Let's start by pulling back the curtain on what an earth driller actually does all day. If you're reading this guide, you've probably seen a drill rig on the highway, or watched one bore into the ground at a construction site, and you're wondering what it would be like to be the person operating it. The short answer is: it's a job that's equal parts heavy machinery, geology, hydraulics, and problem-solving, with a generous helping of mud, vibration, and early mornings thrown in.
First, let's nail down what "earth driller, except oil and gas" means. This is the official government occupation code (47-5023 if you want to look it up) that covers drillers who bore into the ground for reasons other than extracting petroleum. The three big categories you'll actually encounter in the field are water well drilling, geotechnical drilling, and environmental drilling.
Water well drillers are the ones who drill to find and access groundwater. If you've ever lived in a house with a private well, or worked on a farm, or been to a small town that gets its water from underground aquifers, you've benefited from their work. They typically drill vertical holes anywhere from 50 to 1,000 feet deep, install casing (steel or PVC pipe) to keep the hole open, and set up the pump that brings water to the surface. This is the most traditional side of the trade, and it's also the