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Energy

Drill Operator

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.

Annual openings

38

Median wage

$79,830

Typical education

High school (GED)

Growth 2026–2032

-2%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

High school (GED)

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Work experience

Short-term on-the-job training and experience is expected.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

High exposure

Many tasks are repeatable, so technology could reshape the day-to-day over time.

A typical day

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
  4. Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
  5. Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools.
  6. Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools.
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