How to hire rotary drill operators, oil and gas
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs. • Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes. • Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells. • Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance. • Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required. • Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes. • Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells. • Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: No formal educational credential] • Strong critical thinking, monitoring, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension and learning strategies skills • Working knowledge of mechanical and mathematics • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $32.64 an hour ($67,890 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for rotary drill operators, oil and gas
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What rotary drill operators, oil and gas do
- Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
- Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
- Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.
- Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
- Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
- Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
- Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
- Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.8% over ten years, little or no change · about 1,100 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay rotary drill operators, oil and gas
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $82,780 |
| Texas | $77,840 |
| Oklahoma | $55,160 |
| Louisiana | $49,410 |
See rotary drill operators, oil and gas pay in every state
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Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.