How to hire a driller

How to hire a driller, step by step

Here's a step-by-step driller hiring guide:

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

What does a driller do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the driller you need to hire. Certain driller roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a driller to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a driller that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of drillers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Driller	Description	Hourly rate
   Driller		$18-30
   Drilling Rig Operator	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... Show more	$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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Safety Policies
   • Geotechnical
   • Well Control
   • CPR
   • Safety Procedures
   • Drill Rigs
   • BOP
   • Augers
   • Soil Samples
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Mud Pumps
   • Safety Standards

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and perform rig operations, repair large mud pump motors, hoppers, shakers, generators, valves and agitators.
   • Perform data analysis and provide recommendations to achieve improve performance and accelerate commercialization of Pathmaker (RSS).
   • Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and power wrenches and tongs.
   • Assist in the drilling of oil and gas wells as a floor hand operating pipe spinners, tongs, and slips.
   • School, forklift, and CPR train
   • Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables.

   More driller duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the driller job description is a good way to get more applicants. A driller salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a driller in Oklahoma may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level driller. Additionally, a driller with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average driller salary

   $49,896yearly

   $23.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level driller salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average driller salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$63,880	$31
   2	Washington	$60,877	$29
   3	Minnesota	$57,848	$28
   4	Colorado	$57,523	$28
   5	Oregon	$56,723	$27
   6	West Virginia	$54,574	$26
   7	New Jersey	$54,508	$26
   8	North Carolina	$53,998	$26
   9	Nevada	$52,563	$25
   10	Texas	$51,328	$25
   11	Arizona	$50,503	$24
   12	Utah	$50,412	$24
   13	New Mexico	$47,072	$23
   14	Michigan	$45,385	$22
   15	New York	$44,672	$21
   16	Tennessee	$44,376	$21
   17	Indiana	$43,790	$21
   18	Florida	$37,334	$18
   19	Georgia	$35,560	$17
   20	Louisiana	$32,017	$15

   Average driller salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Nabors Industries	$64,634	$31.07	2
   2	Ensign Energy	$62,387	$29.99
   3	Independence Contract Drilling	$60,300	$28.99
   4	Granite Construction	$55,405	$26.64	2
   5	Fisher Industries	$54,777	$26.34	8
   6	Ledcor	$54,365	$26.14	1
   7	Freeport-McMoRan	$52,398	$25.19
   8	Statoil	$52,217	$25.10
   9	Coeur Mining	$51,719	$24.86	2
   10	Intertek	$51,591	$24.80	2
   11	Vulcan Materials	$51,115	$24.57	5
   12	Patterson-UTI Energy	$50,989	$24.51
   13	Maine Drilling & Blasting	$50,916	$24.48	15
   14	Sealaska	$50,914	$24.48
   15	Universal Engineering Sciences	$50,863	$24.45	6
   16	Dyno Nobel	$50,832	$24.44	2
   17	GPAC	$50,655	$24.35
   18	Element Materials Technology	$50,315	$24.19
   19	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$50,282	$24.17	2
   20	SGS	$50,270	$24.17

4. Writing a driller job description

   A job description for a driller role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a driller job description:

   Driller job description example

   
   This drilling position offers a competitive wage and generous benefits. Our benefits include medical, dental, vision, a 401(k), a flexible spending account, life insurance, AD&D insurance, short-term disability, and an employee assistance program (EAP) . If this sounds like the opportunity that you've been looking for, apply today!

   
   ABOUT AUSTIN POWDER

   
   Austin Powder manufactures a full line of industrial explosives and provides blasting services to customers in the quarrying, mining, construction, and oil and gas industries -- all for the purpose of providing aggregate, energy, and mineral products to consumers.

   
   Our values of commitment to safety, attention to detail, and the power of family are the very bedrock upon which our company's culture is built. We truly value our team which is why we offer competitive opportunities for career growth and advancement .

   
   A DAY IN THE LIFE AS A DRILLER

   
   As a Driller, you are essential to the success of each job. To prepare blast areas, you set up and operate drills and other related equipment. You monitor drill controls as well as the progress of the drilling operation to ensure that everything is working correctly. If there are any equipment, employee, or client issues, you report it to the Blaster in charge and/or the Location Manager. While ensuring the safe and efficient operation of equipment, you recommend measures to improve testing procedures, use of equipment, and preventative maintenance. Your dedication to maintaining your skills, knowledge of equipment, and vehicle operation makes you a successful and valuable team player at Austin Powder.

   
   QUALIFICATIONS

   
   * High school diploma or equivalent
   * 21+ years old
   * Experience operating drills
   * Drug-free workplace
   * Must meet requirements of all state and federal explosive laws and qualify as an ATF explosive possessor
   * Ability to work outside in all weather conditions
   * Ability to lift 50+ lbs

   
   Class A CDL with a clean driving record is preferred, but not required. Mechanical ability and interest is a plus!

   
   ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

   
   If you feel that you would be right for this position, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application so that we can review your information. We look forward to meeting you!

   This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right driller 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 driller job on Zippia to find and attract quality driller candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit drillers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 driller

   Once you've decided on a perfect driller candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new driller. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 driller?