Water well drillers
Water well drillers operate a variety of mobile water well drilling rigs and equipment to drill and monitor residential, commercial and industrial water wells. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Good
Market Demand
TEER 2
Skill Level
ON, QC, NL
Top Provinces
What They Do
- 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.
Qualifications
- checkCompletion of secondary school is usually required.
- checkCompletion of a two- to three-year water well drilling apprenticeship program ortwo 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.
- checkTrade certification is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Market Outlook by Province
Ontario
The employment outlook will be Good for water well drillers (NOC 72501) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to several new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Here are some key facts about water well drillers in Ontario: Approximately 300 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Water well drillers mainly work in the following sectors: Construction (NAICS 23): 82%Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 9% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 91% compared to 81% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 9% compared to 19% for all occupations75% of water well drillers work all year, while 25% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.28% of water well drillers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 15% compared to 9% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 32% compared to 25% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 30% compared to 8% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 18% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 5% compared to 24% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
Good
Outlook
Quebec
The employment outlook will be Moderate for water well drillers (NOC 72501) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to several new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Here are some key facts about water well drillers in Quebec: Approximately 50 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Water well drillers mainly work in the following sectors: Construction (NAICS 23): 76%Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 24% 57% of water well drillers work all year, while 42% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 31% compared to 12% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 31% compared to 19% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 23% compared to 19% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a bachelor's degree: n/a university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
Moderate
Outlook
Immigration Pathways
TEER 2 occupations require college education or apprenticeship training and qualify for Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Express Entry (FSW)
Canadian Experience Class
Provincial Nominee Programs
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Top Companies Hiring
Organizations with the most NOC 72501 openings right now.
Boart Longyear
3 active roles · Moncton, NB
Pitbull Energy Services
2 active roles · Edmonton, AB
Westower
1 active role · Spruce Grove, AB
Hudbay Minerals
1 active role · Princeton, BC
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Search Water well drillersarrow_forwardCore Competencies
Operation and Control
to adjust drilling processes and equipment in real-time to optimize efficiency and ensure safety and compliance with regulations.
Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
to detect mechanical malfunctions, wear or tear and changes in drilling performance, by continuously observing the performance and condition of the drilling rig and equipment
Control of Settings
to ensure effective drilling and optimal well performance by accurately configuring the drilling rig and equipment to match the specific requirements of the well being drilled
Depth Perception
to gauge how deeply the drill bit has penetrated into the ground to ensure the desired water table is reached and potential hazards or equipment damage are avoided
Adaptability
to adjust techniques and equipment settings based on changing conditions, such as different soil types or rock formations, to ensure successful drilling operations
Knowledge in Vehicle, Machinery and Equipment Operations
to understand advanced operating and maintaining specialized drilling equipment, ensuring optimal performance and troubleshooting machinery issues in complex environments
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