BETA
Updated: Feb 6
BETA
Updated: Feb 6
Evolving
Last Update: 11/21/2025
Your role’s AI Resilience Score is
43.3%
Median Score
Changing Fast
Evolving
Stable
What does this resilience result mean?
These roles are shifting as AI becomes part of everyday workflows. Expect new responsibilities and new opportunities.
AI Resilience Report for
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
They operate machines to drill into the ground for water, minerals, or construction, ensuring everything is safe and runs smoothly.
Summary
The career of Earth Drillers is labeled as "Evolving" because AI and automation are starting to change some of their tasks, especially in mining. Machines can now handle heavy and repetitive work like operating drill rigs and driving trucks, which improves safety and efficiency.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoSummary
The career of Earth Drillers is labeled as "Evolving" because AI and automation are starting to change some of their tasks, especially in mining. Machines can now handle heavy and repetitive work like operating drill rigs and driving trucks, which improves safety and efficiency.
Read full analysisContributing Sources
AI Resilience
All scores are converted into percentiles showing where this career ranks among U.S. careers. For models that measure impact or risk, we flip the percentile (subtract it from 100) to derive resilience.
CareerVillage.org's AI Resilience Analysis
AI Task Resilience
Evolving30.6%
30.6%
Microsoft's Working with AI
AI Applicability
Stable89.9%
89.9%
Will Robots Take My Job
Automation Resilience
Changing fast28.9%
28.9%
Low Demand
Labor Market Outlook
We use BLS employment projections to complement the AI-focused assessments from other sources.
Learn about this scoreGrowth Rate (2024-34):
2.9%
Growth Percentile:
49.9%
Annual Openings:
1.7
Annual Openings Pct:
18.9%
Analysis of Current AI Resilience
Earth Drillers, Non-Oil/Gas
Updated Quarterly • Last Update: 11/22/2025
State of Automation & Augmentation
Some drilling tasks are getting help from machines today, especially in mining. For example, industry reports note that production drill rigs often use semi‐autonomous control: one operator can oversee several drills from a control room [1] [2]. In these systems, computers can adjust drill speed and air pressure and even keep the boiler aligned, so drivers don’t have to do everything by hand.
Likewise, haul trucks and heavy equipment can be self-driving on mine sites. In fact, one source says many mining operations now run their autonomous trucks 24/7 with digital haulage systems [3].
However, not all tasks are automated. O*NET lists core job duties like attaching drill bits, verifying hole depth, and retrieving stuck tools [4]. These parts still largely need people’s judgment and hands.
For instance, drilling in new or tricky soil usually stays “manually controlled” [2], and choosing the right drill bit or fishing out a broken tool rely on human skill. In short, machines can take over heavy, repetitive parts (driving rigs, holding drills steady), but many fine tasks in drilling are still done by people.
Sources
AI Adoption
Mining and drilling firms see big benefits in automation. Studies note that skilled drillers earn very high wages (even \$10–50K per day) and work in risky conditions [2]. Replacing or assisting them with automation can cut costs and improve safety.
Digital systems can keep sites running smoothly (for example, remote crews working in safer control rooms). One industry analysis points out that new AI-based tools help handle challenges like access and safety while reducing overhead [3] [2].
On the other hand, adoption can be slow when costs or rules get in the way. High-tech rigs and driverless trucks are expensive to buy and need special training. Smaller jobs or remote sites may not yet use these systems because it might not pay off.
There are also safety and legal rules for self-driving machines on public roads. So overall, companies will speed up AI use when it clearly saves money or makes work safer [2] [3], but many drilling tasks will still need human workers’ skill and oversight for now.
Sources
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More Career Info
Career: Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$59,600
Jobs (2024)
18,300
Growth (2024-34)
+2.9%
Annual Openings
1,700
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
Less than 5 years
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
2
Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
3
Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
4
Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
5
Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
6
Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.
7
Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
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