How To Start a Career as a Drill Rig Operator

Have you been looking for a well-paying career to pursue in oil and gas? Then you need to look into becoming a drill rig operator. It’s a skilled position that earns an average of $21.13 an hour. That’s an excellent wage for someone starting in the field. This position is also in-demand across the country. Here’s a guide on how to start a career as a drill rig operator.

What Are a Drill Rig Operator’s Responsibilities?

Before pursuing a career as a drill rig operator, you want to know what a typical day on the job entails. The primary duty of a rig operator is to operate, maintain, and be familiar with all drilling equipment on a site. You’ll operate the pumps and drilling fluid systems during the drilling process.

You’ll need to gauge the depth of a borehole by counting sections of your drill rod. When you aren’t drilling, you’re in charge of maintaining the equipment. That means cleaning, repairing, and oiling your machines.

How To Get Started

If the job sounds appealing to you, here are the typical requirements. You’ll need a high school diploma, but some rig operators have bachelor’s degrees. However, it’s not required to start working.

Experience in oil and gas work is more valuable than education in the eyes of employers. If you’ve never worked on a drilling site before, look into entry-level work. Having some experience as a driller will help you become a drill rig operator faster.

You’ll also need excellent communication skills. That’s because you’ll coordinate with a team during the drilling process. After reporting to your foreman, you’ll need to clearly communicate where you’ll start drilling.

Other valuable skills include some Spanish skills. Construction sites are often bilingual, so speaking more than one language is a plus. That will help you stand out.

Beyond traditional forms of education, there are lots of online certifications you can have. You can learn how to weld and operate drilling machines through these programs.

Closing Thoughts

By now, you should have a better idea of what it takes to become a drill rig operator. It’s a desirable position that requires technical expertise and excellent communication. However, the most crucial factor to have is some knowledge and experience with drilling machines.