How to hire a drill operator

How to hire a drill operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step drill operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a drill operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new drill operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a drill operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your drill operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a drill operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A drill operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, drill operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of drill operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Drill Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Drill Operator		$15-28
   Directional Driller	A Directional Driller specializes in drilling wells at different angles for better sources. They operate a variety of tools and machinery, follow guidelines, and conduct measurements and assessments to ensure quality and efficiency... Show more	$16-39
   Equipment Operator	Equipment operators are employees who are assigned to work on specific company equipment. They are skilled workers trained to handle all aspects of the particular equipment, from basic operating to repairing... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Safety Procedures
   • Directional Drill
   • Construction Equipment
   • OSHA
   • Underground Utilities
   • Hand Tools
   • Minor Maintenance
   • CNC
   • Ditch Witch
   • Drill Rigs
   • DOT
   • Drill Holes
   • Troubleshoot

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate heavy equipment such as dozer, track hoe and pipe fusing machine.
   • Observe all NYSDOT, NYSDEC, OSHA regulations
   • Operate a Vermeer directional bore drill for underground cable.
   • Work in shop and run hot shots as needed.
   • Train new employees on CNC turret lathe and shop floor operations.
   • Fill in when need as driller on vermeer 100x120 and vermeer 100x140.

   More drill operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your drill operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A drill operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, drill operators' average salary in maryland is 47% less than in texas.
   • Seniority. Entry-level drill operators earn 44% less than senior-level drill operators.
   • Certifications. A drill operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a drill operator's salary.

   Average drill operator salary

   $44,948yearly

   $21.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level drill operator salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average drill operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Texas	$54,710	$26
   2	Colorado	$50,348	$24
   3	Minnesota	$49,985	$24
   4	California	$48,763	$23
   5	North Carolina	$48,208	$23
   6	West Virginia	$48,168	$23
   7	Massachusetts	$46,380	$22
   8	Iowa	$42,392	$20
   9	Arizona	$42,278	$20
   10	Illinois	$42,249	$20
   11	Kansas	$42,070	$20
   12	Missouri	$41,369	$20
   13	Arkansas	$39,759	$19
   14	Tennessee	$39,468	$19
   15	Michigan	$38,965	$19
   16	Indiana	$38,804	$19
   17	Ohio	$36,806	$18
   18	South Carolina	$33,086	$16
   19	Florida	$33,067	$16
   20	Oklahoma	$32,544	$16

   Average drill operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Sanmina	$48,781	$23.45	25
   2	Lippert Components	$48,473	$23.30	3
   3	MDU Resources	$47,769	$22.97	2
   4	Michels	$47,696	$22.93	1
   5	Pall	$47,086	$22.64
   6	Danaher	$46,843	$22.52	11
   7	Martin Marietta	$46,785	$22.49	11
   8	Kinross Gold	$46,668	$22.44	2
   9	TCS Communications	$45,886	$22.06
   10	The Walsh Group	$45,859	$22.05	10
   11	Precision Castparts	$45,779	$22.01	40
   12	Walsh Electric	$44,645	$21.46
   13	Star Construction Management	$44,512	$21.40
   14	Trillium Staffing	$44,464	$21.38
   15	MasTec	$44,226	$21.26	78
   16	Southeast Connections	$44,114	$21.21
   17	Rogers Group	$44,064	$21.18	9
   18	NPL Construction Co.	$43,803	$21.06
   19	Henkels & Mccoy Group Inc	$43,683	$21.00	2
   20	RGA Environmental, A Terracon Company	$43,606	$20.96	2

4. Writing a drill operator job description

   A good drill operator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a drill operator job description:

   Drill operator job description example

   Tyler Union in Anniston, AL offers great opportunities, pay, and benefits! Fully paid health insurance! Potential Production Bonuses up to $3,000 Annually!
   
   Set up, operate, and tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink ductile iron work pieces.
   Pay at $19.37 per hour and we offer Company-paid medical insurance, life and AD&D insurance, short-term disability coverage, a Company-matched 401(K) plan, and ten (10) paid holidays. We offer employee-paid dental insurance. Employees are eligible for forty (40) hours vacation days after six (6) months of continuous employment. Take a tour of Tyler Union here. All candidates offered employment must submit to a drug screen, physical, background check and be COVID-19 vaccinated. Responsibilities •Follow all processes and procedures associated with the Tyler Union Safety Management Program. Advise management of any deviations from this program.
   •Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
   •Study machining instructions, job orders, finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
   •Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
   •Install drill bits in spindles.
   •Position and secure work pieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices.
   •Observe drilling machine operations to detect any problems.
   •Lift workpieces onto work tables either manually or with hoists or direct crane operators to lift and position workpieces.
   •Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindle.
   •Operate single- or multiple-spindle drill presses to bore holes so that machining operations can be performed on ductile iron workpieces.
   •Perform minor assembly, such as fastening parts with nuts, bolts, or screws, using power tools or hand tools. Qualifications •High school diploma or GED required.
   •Associates degree in a technical field or training in a vocational school preferred.
   •One to three years of related on-the-job experience required.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right drill operator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your drill operator job on Zippia to find and attract quality drill operator candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting drill operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new drill operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the drill operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new drill operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a drill operator?