ANZSCO Work Type Detail Sheets

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Driller

712211 · Very Heavy
Career data Verified

Drillers assemble and operate drilling rigs and related equipment to test for and extract minerals, liquids, and gases in the Earth.

Most common salary $71k – $124k
Upper salary up to $177k
Training 0-1 year
View on Tahatū ↗ Data: Tahatū Career Navigator, CC BY 4.0
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Data: Tahatū Career Navigator, CC BY 4.0

Description

Assembles, positions and operates a drilling rig and related equipment to extract ore, liquids or gasses from the earth.

Typical work tasks

  • Dismantles moves and reassembles drilling rigs and accessory plant; takes samples of ore, liquids and gases and packages them; performs minor maintenance and repairs, and lubricates and cleans plant; records performance details and information obtained from wells, and keeps logs detailing operations.

Typical work environment

  • Works outdoors or underground.
  • Works in all weather conditions if outdoors and may be on land or at offshore oil or gas rigs.
  • Frequent jarring and jolting of the vehicle and rig is common when operating, it is also noisy and dirty. Protective equipment including hard hats, gloves and boots, as well as ear and eye protection will be worn.

Typical physical and mental demands

  • Up to very heavy work demand levels.
  • Constantly stands to operate rigs which are often mounted on a platform at the rear of a truck or on a drilling platform beside drill shafts.
  • May sit on drilling or boring machine if tunnelling.
  • Uses upper limbs and body to stretch up and across to operate controls or add piping or drill bits.
  • Occasionally squats, crouches or kneels to examine drilling progress and core samples. Frequently twists body or neck is necessary.
  • Frequent contact with water and mud is likely.
  • Lifting and carrying is required to move and install drill extension pieces, casings and piping.
  • Occasional bending is required.
  • Frequent repetitive hand and arm movements in the form of pushing and pulling are required for operation of controls.
  • Driving of rig/truck to site is required for small on-shore operations such as water bores. Off-shore drilling requires no driving.
  • Frequently uses hand tools and other equipment to fasten bolts and undertake general maintenance of the rig. May also operate air compressor and crane-mounted rigs to erect a drilling derrick.
  • Mental skills necessary include machine operation, practical and technical skills.
Entry signal Model estimate

Enter via experience or on-the-job training; no mandatory pre-entry qualification. A licence may be required for some roles or employers.

Entry barrier Experience or on-job training
Licence / registration Licence may be required
ANZSCO skill level 4
Next-day ready No

Unverified — this label is model-generated and not yet clinician-reviewed. Confirm against the WTDS before relying on it.

How this was determined (model-generated): Driller: on-the-job entry; 'licensing may be required' for some rigs/sites; not a universal core gate, so may_be_required; proposal stands.

Entry Requirements

  • A New Zealand Register Level 2 or 3 qualification or at least one year of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 4). In some instances relevant experience may be required in addition to the formal qualification. For entry-level positions on-the-job training may be sufficient.
  • Registration or licensing may be required.

Further Comments

  • There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.