How to become a water well driller
Official title: Water well drillers
Also called: Water well driller, Apprentice water well driller, Water well driller apprentice, Water well drilling technician, Journeyman/woman water well driller, Water well driller journeyman/woman, Cable tool driller - water well drilling, Churn drill operator - water well drilling
Water well drillers operate a variety of mobile water well drilling rigs and equipment to drill and monitor residential, commercial and industrial water wells. They are employed by water well drilling contractors and governments, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main tasks
- Review client requirements and proposed locations for water wells
- Operate water well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore and dig for residential, commercial and industrial water wells or environmental assessment, and install well screens, casings and other well fixtures
- Document geological formations encountered
- Clean and disinfect wells in preparation for use
- Perform routine mechanical maintenance work on water well drilling rigs and equipment
- Install, test, maintain and repair water well pumps, piping systems and equipment and perform pumping tests to assess well performance
- May provide other drilling services, such as repair or dismantling of existing water well structure, elevator shaft drilling and hydro pole drilling
- Water well drillers may specialize in a specific method of drilling, such as cable, rotary, auger, hammer or reverse circulation drilling
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a two- to three-year water well drilling apprenticeship program or Two to three years of work experience in the trade combined with college or industry courses in water well drilling is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Apprenticeship. Completion of a two- to three-year water well drilling apprenticeship program or Two to three years of work experience in the trade combined with college or industry courses in water well drilling is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $58,500 a year The middle half earn $48,750 to $68,250.
- About 1,200 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 1,500 are projected by 2033. (+25%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of shortage.
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a water well driller?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a two- to three-year water well drilling apprenticeship program or Two to three years of work experience in the trade combined with college or industry courses in water well drilling is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
How much does a water well driller earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $58,500 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $48,750 to $68,250.
Is a water well driller a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 25% by 2033, from about 1,200 to about 1,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a water well driller?
Usually not. Only 3% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Apprenticeship.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03