by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Well Drilling/Driller involves the study of Well Drilling/driller. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Set Up, Maintain, Repair, And Operate Well Drilling Equipment; Locate, Drill, Construct, And Develop Water, Gas, And Oil Wells; And Test And Monitor Wells To Ensure Adequate Flow. Includes Applications To Home, Business, And Industrial Uses. Examples: [Rig Technician], [Derrickhand], [Motorhand]. Read on to learn the essential details every well drilling/driller student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering well drilling/driller programs.
Nationwide, well drilling/driller is a widely-pursued major, with 7 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Well Drilling/Driller Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for well drilling/driller students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of well drilling/driller programs later in this article.
Programs in Well Drilling/Driller develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations well drilling/driller graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a well drilling/driller program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a well drilling/driller major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several well drilling/driller degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to well drilling/driller tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 43.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 24.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 14.6% |
| Some college courses | 8.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in well drilling/driller careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in well drilling/driller prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to well drilling/driller.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to well drilling/driller.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | 751,306 | 2.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 646,091 | 3.6% |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | 484,877 | 9.2% |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | 439,769 | 3.2% |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | 406,953 | 8.6% |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | 354,332 | -3.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of well drilling/driller graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,651 |
| 4 years | $39,033 |
| 5 years | $45,465 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for well drilling/driller graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers well drilling/driller grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $69,933 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $53,437 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $44,277 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $42,227 |
With 1 different well drilling/driller programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased well drilling/driller school rankings to help you.
Students interested in well drilling/driller, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 2,780 |
| Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter | 613 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other | 71 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
