ConstructionO*NET: 47-5023.00
Will AI Replace Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas?
Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.
77out of 100
High Risk
AI Risk Score
77/100
Risk Level
High
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
14
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- ▸Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
- ▸Document geological formations encountered during work.
- ▸Record drilling progress and geological data.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- ▸Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
- ▸Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (4)
- Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
- Document geological formations encountered during work.
- Record drilling progress and geological data.
👤Requires Humans (3)
- Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
- Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
⚡AI-Assisted (7)
- Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
- Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
- Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
Key Skills Analysis
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 4.00/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.88/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Equipment Maintenance
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.00/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Equipment SelectionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Troubleshooting
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Quality Control AnalysisAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Repairing
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Related Occupations
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
76/100 — High Risk
Helpers--Extraction Workers
78/100 — High Risk
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
87/100 — Critical Risk
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
71/100 — High Risk
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
76/100 — High Risk
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas have a high risk of AI replacement with a score of 77/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research