Oil & Gas Drill Operator

Explore This Path

Ideal for those who love hands-on work and exploring beneath the Earth's surface.
Drive energy production by safely extracting vital resources for global needs.
Master the art of precision drilling and lead teams in innovative techniques.

💰 Earn $49K-$79K

📚 NO DEGREE REQUIRED

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 2.2% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

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.

Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.

Scoop

Minimum Education

None

Career Prospects

Good (Increasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

1,300 Annually

Median Earnings

$68,160 in California

$61,770 Nationally

$25K

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Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Oil & Gas Drill Operator? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@oilandgasjobsearch.com/ Oil and Gas JobSearch

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Influencing or leading others
Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Equipment Selection
Critical Thinking
Equipment Maintenance
Quality Control Analysis
Repairing
Troubleshooting

You value 🙏

Having support
Job security
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Oil & Gas Drill Operator

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years