How to hire a drilling foreman

How to hire a drilling foreman, step by step

Here's a step-by-step drilling foreman hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The drilling foreman hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 drilling foreman 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 drilling foreman that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Drilling Foreman	Description	Hourly rate
   Drilling Foreman		$32-63
   Crew Leader	Crew leaders are restaurant workers who act as the team leader of the restaurant's crew. They are usually tenured employees with leadership skills who are respected by the team... Show more	$12-24
   Project Supervisor	A project supervisor is someone employed in industries like engineering, construction, manufacturing, as well as design and marketing industries to coordinate all aspects of a project. Common duties include participating in project planning, acting as a communication liaison, coordinating labor needs, and training employees... Show more	$13-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Standards
   • DOT
   • LLC
   • Directional Drill
   • Equipment Maintenance
   • Cathodic Protection
   • Construction Equipment
   • Horizontal Directional
   • Equipment Operation
   • Underground Utilities
   • Completion Operations
   • Well Control
   • RAN
   • Augers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage drilling operations for geotechnical drilling operations
   • Experience with CO2 and H2S.
   • Utilize strong leadership and management skills in conducting site supervision and work scope compliance for various remodeling improvements.
   • Signale worker operating hoisting equipment to lift and place structural-steel member.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your drilling foreman job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A drilling foreman can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, drilling foremen' average salary in mississippi is 45% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level drilling foremen 48% less than senior-level drilling foremen.
   • Certifications. A drilling foreman with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a drilling foreman's salary.

   Average drilling foreman salary

   $95,329yearly

   $45.83 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level drilling foreman salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a drilling foreman job description

   A drilling foreman job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a drilling foreman job description:

   Drilling foreman job description example

   **Southeast Connections, LLC,** provides inclusive infrastructure solutions for the natural gas industry. We construct the systems and facilities to transport the nation's cleanest burning energy resource. Southeast Connections offers complete construction services that include pipeline construction, installation, maintenance, repairs, stations, facility modification and new construction. From Senior Management to the "boots on the ground", Southeast Connections, LLC is dedicated & determined to remain the industry leader and earn continued respect from clients through our professionalism.
   
   **_We offer excellent compensation and industry-leading benefits, such as health, dental and vision, life insurance, STD and LTD starting on DAY 1. Eligibility for Company matching 401K benefit after 3 months of employment._**
   **Position Overview:**
   
   Oversees a directional drill crew working on job site, making sure work is compliant with installation and safety standards. Oversees the field operations with a focus on safety, compliance, efficiency, cost management and innovation. Manages construction activities to ensure company procedures are followed and compliance is maintained relative to all applicable local, state and federal requirements.
   
   **Essential Functions:**
   
   + Responsible for running a variety of equipment including but not limited to; all types of Directional Drills, (Vermeer and/or Ditch Witch) and locators.
   
   + Experience drilling in both standard and high-risk areas.
   
   + Have knowledge of utility depths and placement.
   
   + Possessgeneral knowledge of construction practices and be familiar with equipment, including routine service and maintenance.
   
   + Serve as single point of contact with company crews, customers, inspectors, subcontractors and vendors performing work in the field.
   
   + Supervise the daily operations in accordance with job specifications and customer requirements while continually monitoring site for changing safety conditions and related issues.
   
   + Oversees all work is compliant with installation standards.
   
   **Qualifications:**
   
   **Education**
   
   **Preferred:** High school diploma
   
   **Experience**
   
   **Qualifications:**
   
   **Required:** Two years of experience as an equipment and directional drill operator, or equivalent on the job experience. Proficient knowledge of utility installation techniques and standards.
   
   **Preferred** : Minimum 5 years' operating a directional drill (Vermeer and/or Ditch Witch), valid driver's license with clean driving record, excellent communications and interpersonal skills, minimum two (2) years utility construction experience, strong interpersonal, team-oriented skills.
   
   **Other Duties**
   
   **Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice**

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right drilling foreman for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with drilling foremen they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit drilling foremen who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your drilling foreman job on Zippia to find and recruit drilling foreman candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit drilling foremen, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 drilling foreman

   Once you have selected a candidate for the drilling foreman 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new drilling foreman 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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