Driller, Earth Loop Technician
Interest in controlling water well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore and dig for residential, commercial and industrial water wells or environmental assessment; and to install well screens, casings and other well fixtures
Interest in comparing information to perform routine maintenance work on water well drilling rigs and equipment; and in cleaning and disinfecting wells in preparation for use
Interest in speaking to review client needs and proposed locations for water wells
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
In Alberta, the Water Well Driller trade has two branches:
For simplicity, the two branches are referred to as water well driller and earth loop technician in this profile.
To find water that is clean and safe for drinking, water well drillers must know the geological formations of the area in which they are working. They may assist customers in locating a well and estimating the cost.
In general, water well drillers:
Earth loop systems use the relatively constant temperature in the earth to provide heating and cooling for residential homes and commercial buildings. The earth's energy is transported into the building using a fluid that runs through a series of closed loops that can be installed vertically or horizontally into the ground. These are called earth loops. Earth loop technicians bore into the earth and install earth loops.
In general, earth loop technicians:
Water well drillers and earth loop technicians work outdoors and travel to various work sites. The work can be physically demanding and requires the use of personal protective equipment.
They may be required to lift and move equipment that weighs over 20 kilograms. There is some risk of injury involved in working with power equipment.
Water well drillers and earth loop technicians need the following characteristics:
They should enjoy scheduling their own hours and working independently.
To work in Alberta, a water well driller or earth loop technician must be ONE of the following:
To register with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, apprentices must:
The term of apprenticeship for water well driller or earth loop technician is two years (two 12 month periods), including a minimum of 1,800 hours of on-the-job training and six weeks of technical training each year. High school students can earn credits toward apprenticeship training and a high school diploma at the same time through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP).
Applicants who have related training or work experience may be eligible for credit or certification.
Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at Red Deer College.
For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
This is an Apprenticeship trade. For full details, see the related certification profile
Most water well drillers and earth loop technicians are self-employed, employed by water well drilling companies or work for earth loop construction companies. Many water well drilling operations are family-run businesses. All Alberta water well drilling companies and earth loop installations must comply with the Alberta Environment and Park's Water Act and Regulation.
Opportunities to advance to supervisory positions are limited in smaller organizations. Alberta certified journeyperson water well drillers who have the supervisory or management skills required by industry may apply for an Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal by contacting Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Water well drillers and earth loop technicians are part of a larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7373: Water Well Drillers. In Alberta, 76% of people employed as water well drillers work in the Construction industry.
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Journeyperson wage rates vary but generally range from $25 to $35 an hour plus benefits (2015 estimates). Apprentice water well drillers earn at least 60% of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year and 85% in the second.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $17.00 | $30.00 | $24.46 | $26.44 |
| Overall | $20.00 | $36.06 | $29.59 | $31.00 |
| Top | $24.00 | $48.08 | $33.29 | $33.00 |
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* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website: tradesecrets.alberta.ca
Alberta Geothermal Energy Association website: www.cangea.ca
Alberta Water Well Drilling Association website: www.awwda.com
BuildForce Canada website: www.buildforce.ca
Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) website: www.geo-exchange.ca
Geothermal Exchange Organization website: thinkgeoenergy.com
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) website: www.igshpa.okstate.edu
For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.
Updated Mar 17, 2015. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.