Horizontal drill operator vs operator

The differences between horizontal drill operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a horizontal drill operator, becoming an operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a horizontal drill operator has an average salary of $38,118, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.

The top three skills for a horizontal drill operator include CDL, directional drill and fiber optic. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.

Horizontal drill operator vs operator overview

	Horizontal Drill Operator	Operator
Yearly salary	$38,118	$37,928
Hourly rate	$18.33	$18.23
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	29,944	159,077
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 50%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	38	43
Years of experience	2	4

Horizontal drill operator vs operator salary

Horizontal drill operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Horizontal Drill Operator	Operator
Average salary	$38,118	$37,928
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $52,000	Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	-	North Dakota
Best paying company	-	Microsoft
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between horizontal drill operator and operator education

There are a few differences between a horizontal drill operator and an operator in terms of educational background:

	Horizontal Drill Operator	Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 50%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Business
Most common college	-	-

Horizontal drill operator vs operator demographics

Here are the differences between horizontal drill operators' and operators' demographics:

	Horizontal Drill Operator	Operator
Average age	38	43
Gender ratio	Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0%	Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 0.8% White, 74.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	3%	4%

Differences between horizontal drill operator and operator duties and responsibilities

Horizontal drill operator example responsibilities.

Maintain fluid weights by careful mixing of chemicals using PPE and careful mathematical calculations in collaboration with engineers.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.

Operator example responsibilities.

Assist in developing the company s short and long term training plans and managing yearly ammunition allocation.
Assist and manage the extrusion process of polyester raw material in pellet or chip form to produce finish rolls of plastic.
Manage day-to-day transportation and logistics services for multinational account base.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Job require basic math skills: fractions and decimals.
Ensure safety of all equipment during production in compliance with strict OSHA and safety regulations.

Horizontal drill operator vs operator skills

Common horizontal drill operator skills

CDL, 72%
Directional Drill, 23%
Fiber Optic, 3%
Hand Holes, 1%
Routine Maintenance, 0%

Common operator skills

Safety Procedures, 15%
CDL, 6%
Emergency Calls, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 4%
Quality Checks, 4%
Dozer, 4%

Horizontal Drill Operator vs. similar jobs

Horizontal Drill Operator related careers

Horizontal Drill Operator related jobs

What similar roles do

Operator responsibilities

Updated January 8, 2025

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