How to Become a Well Driller — Salary, Training & Licensing
Tap into the earth's most essential resource — bring water to communities, farms, and families who depend on it.
97% High Demand
$45K–$90K+
Salary Range
High
Demand
+6%
Job Growth
℞ Prescribed by data · BLS · WEF · McKinsey
Well Driller Apprenticeship & Training in Oregon
Licensing & Requirements
Oregon Water Resources Department well driller license required. Must pass state exam and demonstrate supervised experience. Oregon has strict well construction standards.
Training Programs
On-the-job training with licensed drilling companies. NGWA certification courses available. Oregon's diverse geology (volcanic basalt, alluvial valleys) requires adaptable drilling knowledge.
Oregon well drilling companies, groundwater consulting firms, geothermal drilling contractors, agricultural well drillers (Willamette Valley, Central Oregon), environmental drilling firms, rural water districts.
Career Overview
Is this career right for you?
✓You enjoy operating heavy machinery and working outdoors in all conditions
✓You're interested in geology, groundwater, and how the earth works beneath the surface
✓You want a career where your work directly sustains communities and agriculture
✓You're comfortable working in rural and remote locations away from cities
✓You enjoy problem-solving when conditions change unexpectedly underground
✓You want a trade with strong business ownership potential and limited competition
Your Roadmap
1
Get Your High School Diploma or GEDAges 16–18
Focus on earth science, geology, physics, and math courses
Take shop class, welding, or diesel mechanics if available
Research well drilling companies in your area — they often hire helpers at 18
Learn about groundwater science and the National Ground Water Association (NGWA)
2
Start as a Driller's HelperAges 18–19
Get hired by a well drilling company as a helper/laborer — most learning happens on the rig
Study well construction standards, safety protocols, and state regulations
Get your CDL (Commercial Driver's License) to transport drilling rigs between job sites
3
Learn Drilling Operations and GeologyAges 19–22
Progress from helper to drill rig operator under supervision
Learn to read geological formations — identifying changes in rock, sand, clay, and gravel while drilling
Understand different drilling methods: rotary, cable tool, air rotary, and mud rotary
Study well casing, screen selection, grouting, and well development techniques
4
Earn Your Well Driller LicenseAges 22–24
Most states require a well driller license after 2-4 years of supervised experience
Pass your state well driller examination covering regulations, drilling methods, and well construction
Get NGWA certifications — Certified Well Driller (CWD) or Master Ground Water Contractor (MGWC)
Pump installer certification adds another revenue stream and service capability
5
Master Advanced Drilling and SpecializationsAges 24–28
Specialize in geothermal well drilling for heating/cooling systems — growing demand and premium rates
Learn environmental monitoring well construction for contamination assessment
Master irrigation well drilling for agricultural operations
Develop skills in well rehabilitation, deepening, and abandonment (plugging old wells)
6
Start Your Own Well Drilling BusinessAges 28+
Purchase or finance your own drill rig and support equipment
Build relationships with homebuilders, farmers, and environmental consulting firms
Many well drillers are owner-operators with 1-3 rigs and small crews
Geothermal drilling, water treatment services, and pump repair add diversified revenue streams
Major Employers & Training Resources
Layne (a Granite Company)
One of the largest water infrastructure companies in the US. Hires well drillers for municipal, industrial, and agricultural water well projects with career advancement and training.
Skillings & Sons
Major New England well drilling company. Offers training and career development for drillers in residential, commercial, and geothermal well construction.
National Ground Water Association
Industry association offering Certified Well Driller (CWD) and Master Ground Water Contractor (MGWC) certifications, training courses, and continuing education.
Boart Longyear
Global drilling services company. Hires drillers for exploration, environmental, and water well projects with training programs and international opportunities.
Regional Well Drilling Companies
Most well drilling in the US is done by small to mid-size companies (1-10 rigs). These family-owned operations are the primary employers and often provide comprehensive apprentice-to-driller training.
Well drilling is dominated by small businesses and family operations. Many successful drillers started as helpers, learned the trade, earned their license, and bought their first rig. The path from employee to owner is well-established in this industry.
Well drilling requires no college degree — you learn on the rig and earn from day one. After 2-4 years of apprenticeship, a licensed well driller earns $48K-$68K with zero student debt. Business owners with one or two rigs commonly earn $80K-$150K+. The investment in a drill rig ($100K-$500K) pays for itself quickly in an industry with limited competition and steady demand.
The Real Talk
The Good
Essential service — people, farms, and communities cannot exist without water
Excellent path to business ownership with strong margins and limited competition
Outdoor work in varied locations — no two job sites are ever the same
Geothermal drilling is a fast-growing specialty with premium rates
Deep job satisfaction — you literally bring water to people who need it
Low competition — few people know about this career, creating strong demand for licensed drillers
The Hard Parts
Heavy equipment operation carries inherent safety risks — drill rigs are powerful and dangerous
Physically demanding outdoor work in all weather conditions and remote locations
Significant capital investment required to start your own business (drill rig costs $100K-$500K+)
Unpredictable geology — some wells produce great water, others come up dry, affecting customer satisfaction
Rural work means travel and time away from home, sometimes for extended periods
Is It Worth It?
Well drilling is one of the most essential and least-known skilled trades. Water is the most fundamental human need, and well drillers are the ones who access it. The career offers a clear path from helper to licensed driller to business owner, with strong earning potential at every stage. Geothermal drilling adds a growing, high-paying specialty. The work is physical, the conditions can be tough, and the equipment is serious — but few careers offer this combination of essential service, limited competition, business ownership potential, and the deep satisfaction of literally giving people water. If you're tough, mechanically inclined, and interested in geology and groundwater, well drilling is a career that will never run dry.
A Career Is Just One Part of Your Story
The best careers don't just pay well — they give you freedom, purpose, and time for the people and things you love. Choose a path that makes your whole life better, not just your resume.
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