-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OxgjLngP3XFmYFtvO1F5dn5J1uYmhHP7M6JuAPKZna+JLxQlCH6rzv0b72fOPlmQ
 uf7tuO6UywtCfyZbhaw8mA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-016275.txt : 20080902
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-016275.hdr.sgml : 20080901
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080902173053
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-016275
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080828
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080902
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080902

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:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1250 N.E. LOOP 410
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78209
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5128287689

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1250 N.E. LOOP 410
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78209

	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:			WEST FRANKLIN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185176

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08182
		FILM NUMBER:		081052206

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13919 BLUFF WIND
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78216
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2108287689X113
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185176</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEST FRANKLIN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1250 N E LOOP 410 #1000</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN ANTONIO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78209</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. VP/COO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>StockOption (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.07</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2008-08-28</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>93000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.07</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Pioneer Drilling Company common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>93000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>673000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted stock award</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.07</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2008-08-28</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.07</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Pioneer Drilling Company common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercisable in equal installments over 3 years beginning 08-28-09</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Franklin C. West</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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