Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
The short answer
This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to hold steady over the next decade, with about 50 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
This job is in the second least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.
AI can help with or automate about 21% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Document geological formations encountered during work.
AI could do much of this on its own
Record drilling progress and geological data.
AI could do much of this on its own
Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Design well pumping systems.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Tasks AI can't do much of
Fabricate well casings.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Very similar work+33% pay1,580 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 33% more—$83,178 vs your $62,512 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Mechanical
- Operation and Control
- Multilimb Coordination
- Reaction Time
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Construction Laborers
Similar workslightly less pay6,031 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$57,446 vs your $62,512 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Manual Dexterity
- Multilimb Coordination
- Oral Comprehension
- Control Precision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Static Strength
- Dynamic Strength
- Stamina
- Trunk Strength
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Similar work+3% pay381 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 3% more—$64,460 vs your $62,512 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Mechanical
- Reaction Time
- Operations Monitoring
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
Similar work+43% pay321 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 43% more—$89,511 vs your $62,512 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Reaction Time
- Operations Monitoring
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Dynamic Strength
- Gross Body Coordination
- Static Strength
- Speed of Limb Movement
Maintenance Workers, Machinery
Similar work+11% pay222 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 11% more—$69,527 vs your $62,512 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Operations Monitoring
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Operation and Control
- Near Vision
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Somewhat similar workslightly less pay113 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays slightly less—$59,699 vs your $62,512 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Reaction Time
- Multilimb Coordination
- Operation and Control
- Depth Perception
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Peripheral Vision
- Response Orientation
- Speed of Limb Movement
- Static Strength
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Somewhat similar workslightly less pay35 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$57,855 vs your $62,512 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Operations Monitoring
- Control Precision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Manual Dexterity
New skills to build
- Computers and Electronics
- Production and Processing