As of June 2026, Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas has an AI-exposure score of 37/100 (Low exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas

37/100
Low exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 7% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$60,190. About 1,700 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Construction roles

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (you)
37
Pipelayers
37
Roof Bolters, Mining
37
Plasterers and Stucco Masons
37
Glaziers
38
Painters, Construction and Maintenance
38
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as durable (75%).

Augmentable
  • Document geological formations encountered during work.
  • Record drilling progress and geological data.
  • Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
  • Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
  • Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
Durable
  • Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
  • Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
  • Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
  • Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.
  • Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
  • Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
  • Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
  • Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
  • Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
  • Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
  • Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
  • Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
  • Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
  • Fabricate well casings.
  • Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.

Safer adjacent roles

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
80% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$67,890
48
Helpers--Extraction Workers
72% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$47,730
43
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
64% skills overlap · Low exposure · ~US$61,810
34
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
56% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$49,080
55
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
48% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$57,430
41
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$59,850
41
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$61,390
51
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$46,960
42

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.