AI JOB RISK SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 47-5023.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas?

Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.

Estimated AI task exposure
13%

Low exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

28 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 97%.

Digital/info work

27/100

Physical moat

66/100

Human moat

16/100

Rating coverage

97%

29 task statements / 28 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
Importance 84/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 74/100Weight 0.86
Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
Importance 83/100Relevance 93/100Frequency 76/100Weight 0.85
Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
Importance 81/100Relevance 94/100Frequency 72/100Weight 0.84
Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
Importance 80/100Relevance 89/100Frequency 76/100Weight 0.83
Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
Importance 82/100Relevance 86/100Frequency 75/100Weight 0.82
Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
Importance 78/100Relevance 88/100Frequency 73/100Weight 0.80
Record drilling progress and geological data.
Importance 74/100Relevance 89/100Frequency 72/100Weight 0.79
Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
Importance 78/100Relevance 92/100Frequency 58/100Weight 0.78
Document geological formations encountered during work.
Importance 76/100Relevance 78/100Frequency 68/100Weight 0.75
Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
Importance 81/100Relevance 76/100Frequency 63/100Weight 0.75

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$60,190

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

19,450

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+3.6%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

1

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Home Appliance Repairers

5%

8 points lower exposure • 95% profile similarity

Median wage: $50,990 Growth 2025–2035: +1.9% Annual openings: 3

more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

5%

8 points lower exposure • 95% profile similarity

Median wage: $74,330 Growth 2025–2035: -3.4% Annual openings: 8

more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Millwrights

5%

8 points lower exposure • 94% profile similarity

Median wage: $65,700 Growth 2025–2035: +0.9% Annual openings: 3

stronger human/judgment moat
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Carpenters

7%

6 points lower exposure • 97% profile similarity

Median wage: $60,580 Growth 2025–2035: +3.9% Annual openings: 63

more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

6%

7 points lower exposure • 96% profile similarity

Median wage: $57,020 Growth 2025–2035: +1.6% Annual openings: 14

similar work profile with lower modeled exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

5%

8 points lower exposure • 95% profile similarity

Median wage: $65,380 Growth 2025–2035: -5.6% Annual openings: 3

more physical-world work

Personalized career defense protocol

AI-Proofing Plan

AUTOMATE

    AUGMENT

    • administrative support tasks
    • planning and documentation

    PROTECT

    • physical-world execution
    • on-site troubleshooting
    • dexterity and equipment interaction

    LEARN

    • AI-assisted diagnostics
    • digital documentation
    • basic AI literacy

    AI-PROOFING RESOURCES

    What this score does not mean

    The percentage is a comparative task-exposure index. It is not the probability that this occupation disappears, that a worker is laid off, or that AI can perform the entire job.

    New in V11

    Find a Safer Career Path

    High exposure does not mean starting over. V11 compares your occupation with the other 922 O*NET occupations and surfaces lower-exposure options with similar work profiles.

    EXPLORE CAREER ALTERNATIVES
    I am your guide.
    Knowledge is your strongest upgrade.