Earth drillers, except oil and gas
SOC Code: 47-5023
Earth drillers, except oil and gas carries a 48% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $59,600 and +2.9% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 18,300 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 48% AI exposure, Earth drillers, except oil and gas sits 11 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 84% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Earth drillers, except oil and gas sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Earth drillers, except oil and gas has ai exposure of 48%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Earth drillers, except oil and gas vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Earth drillers, except oil and gas is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Earth drillers, except oil and gas (SOC 47-5023) carries an AI exposure score of 48%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 18,300 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +2.9% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $59,600, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus Less than 5 years of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Earth drillers, except oil and gas. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Fabricate well casings.
- 2. Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- 3. Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- 4. Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
- 5. Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- 6. Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- 7. Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- 8. Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.
- 9. Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- 10. Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
Key Skills Required
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Equipment Maintenance
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Complex Problem Solving
- Equipment Selection
Knowledge Areas
- Mechanical
- Administration and Management
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Design
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Earth drillers, except oil and gas?
Earth drillers, except oil and gas has an AI exposure score of 48%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Earth drillers, except oil and gas?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Earth drillers, except oil and gas is projected to grow by 2.9% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 18,300 workers.
What skills are needed for Earth drillers, except oil and gas?
Key skills for Earth drillers, except oil and gas include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Earth drillers, except oil and gas earn?
The median annual wage for Earth drillers, except oil and gas is $59,600, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Earth drillers, except oil and gas?
The typical entry-level education for Earth drillers, except oil and gas is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect Less than 5 years of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Long-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Earth drillers, except oil and gas?
Earth drillers, except oil and gas roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).