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Construction, well-drilling machinery operators

How to become a Well Driller and Boring Operator

Also called: Well drilling machine operator, Test borer, Boring machine operator

Operates drilling machines to bore holes into the ground for wells, hot springs, oil wells and more.

Workers in this job say high school or university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start, but it is a good idea to get an ordinary driving licence. The licences and qualifications you need after joining depend on the work. Related subjects at senmon gakko (vocational college) or university include civil engineering, mechanical engineering, mining and geology. The work ranges from small soil surveys to large projects such as oil and gas drilling, and employers fall broadly into oil and well drilling companies, survey consultancies with boring departments, and soil survey companies. Career progress after joining runs from assistant to rig operator, site manager and chief engineer, though the years each step takes depend on the work. It usually takes several years to become a rig operator. On general survey work, rig operators often need the geological survey technician qualification. Chief engineers may be expected to hold the Professional Engineer (applied science) qualification. A related qualification is the well drilling exam set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. It is easiest to set up on your own in soil surveys, where the machines and jobs are small, often as a subcontractor to survey consultancies. The work involves a tough environment, shift work and long trips away, so physical and mental strength and the ability to work in a team are needed.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Well Driller and Boring Operator?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start, but it is a good idea to get an ordinary driving licence. The licences and qualifications you need after joining depend on the work. Related subjects at senmon gakko (vocational college) or university include civil engineering, mechanical engineering, mining and geology. The work ranges from small soil surveys to large projects such as oil and gas drilling, and employers fall broadly into oil and well drilling companies, survey consultancies with boring departments, and soil survey companies. Career progress after joining runs from assistant to rig operator, site manager and chief engineer, though the years each step takes depend on the work. It usually takes several years to become a rig operator. On general survey work, rig operators often need the geological survey technician qualification. Chief engineers may be expected to hold the Professional Engineer (applied science) qualification. A related qualification is the well drilling exam set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. It is easiest to set up on your own in soil surveys, where the machines and jobs are small, often as a subcontractor to survey consultancies. The work involves a tough environment, shift work and long trips away, so physical and mental strength and the ability to work in a team are needed.

How much does a Well Driller and Boring Operator earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,878,500 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Construction, well-drilling machinery operators, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Well Driller and Boring Operator?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 4% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a Well Driller and Boring Operator?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026