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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MJxQF6SLr6fq/1QshiE70JqWZqXVa7uwQ278O5A6yGOaF1Ws355bZnXkVlgoxr5T
 d7a4H9vbhCZSp9OxZLN5Eg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-012998.txt : 20040616
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-012998.hdr.sgml : 20040616
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040616170238
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-012998
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040615
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040616

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PIONEER DRILLING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000320575
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS [1381]
		IRS NUMBER:				742088619
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9310 BROADWAY BLDG I
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78217
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5128287689

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SOUTH TEXAS DRILLING & EXPLORATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SOUTH TEXAS DRILLING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19810715

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURKHARDT DEAN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185620

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08182
		FILM NUMBER:		04866780

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2125 BOLSOVER
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77005
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7135208078

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2125 BOLSOVER
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77005
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000320575</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PIONEER DRILLING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PDC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185620</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURKHARDT DEAN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2125 BOLSOVER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.44</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.44</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-06-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dean A Burkhardt</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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