by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1 U.S. colleges awarded 7 degrees and certificates in Well Drilling/Driller. Graduates earn a median $38,651 one year after completing, rising to $54,525 after four years.
Studying 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].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, well drilling/driller is a widely-pursued major, with 7 degrees awarded annually. 1 colleges award well drilling/driller degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 7.
All 7 of the awards are associate degrees, the only level colleges reported.
O*NET rates Critical Thinking the most important skill for jobs related to well drilling/driller, at 3.5 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Mechanical, Administration and Management and Mathematics. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Comprehension and Near Vision.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a well drilling/driller degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to well drilling/driller, at 43.6%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Well Drilling/Driller, with an average median salary of $58,569; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Installation Managers, at 9.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Blast Driller, Driller, Equipment Operator and Water Blaster.
The occupation related to well drilling/driller with the most projected jobs is Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters, at 751,306.
| 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% |
Well Drilling/Driller graduates earn a median $38,651 one year after completing their program, $54,525 after four years and $47,745 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,651 |
| 4 years | $54,525 |
| 5 years | $47,745 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to well drilling/driller is First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, with a median salary of $83,555.
| 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 |
Well Drilling/Driller has 3 similar majors in the Construction Trades field, which together award 4,187 degrees a year; the largest are Plumbing Technology/Plumber (3,426), Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter (698) and Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other (63). Browse all Construction Trades majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 3,426 |
| Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter | 698 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other | 63 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.