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The differences between drillers and drilling rig operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a driller and a drilling rig operator. Additionally, a driller has an average salary of $49,896, which is higher than the $44,739 average annual salary of a drilling rig operator.
The top three skills for a driller include CDL, preventative maintenance and safety policies. The most important skills for a drilling rig operator are CDL, OSHA, and minor maintenance.
| Driller | Drilling Rig Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $49,896 | $44,739 |
| Hourly rate | $23.99 | $21.51 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 1,593 | 34,198 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.67 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 61% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A driller is responsible for reviewing and analyzing drilling parameters to perform the drilling procedures safely and successfully. Drillers inspect drilling tools and equipment before and after the operations to ensure its operational efficiency and optimal performance. They keep an organized report of the drilling progress, assist other rig workers, assemble drilling machinery, and strictly adhere to the safety regulations at all times to avoid drilling operation hazards. In some cases, drillers evaluate the land condition before proceeding to provide special instructions for safety controls.
The drilling rig operator does their job by operating on large drilling rig machines to dig holes for water pipes, sewers, oil plants, and underground tunnels. They possess the endurance and flexibility to work in full gear and rowdy environments. They must create a good relationship with their co-workers to work quickly and enable faster delivery of projects. They must possess immense knowledge of the processes of rig machines. Bearing the knowledge, they also have to know the drilling specifications and maneuver the rigging machine well.
Drillers and drilling rig operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Driller | Drilling Rig Operator | |
| Average salary | $49,896 | $44,739 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $63,000 | Between $33,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Nabors Industries | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a driller and a drilling rig operator in terms of educational background:
| Driller | Drilling Rig Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 61% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between drillers' and drilling rig operators' demographics:
| Driller | Drilling Rig Operator | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% | Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 1.2% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 1.2% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |