Career Overview
Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
Also Known As
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Geoscientist
- Project Geologist
Alternate Job Titles
- Consultant Geologist
- Core Analysis Operator
- Core Analyst
- Crystallographer
- Development Geologist
- Engineering Geologist
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Geologist
- Environmental Protection Geologist
- Exploration Geologist
- Field Geologist
- Geochemist
- Geodesist
- Geological Scout
- Geological Specialist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application.
- Analyze and interpret geological data, using computer software.
- Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classification of soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains.
- Analyze and interpret geological, geochemical, or geophysical information from sources, such as survey data, well logs, bore holes, or aerial photos.
- Identify risks for natural disasters, such as mudslides, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions.
- Prepare geological maps, cross-sectional diagrams, charts, or reports concerning mineral extraction, land use, or resource management, using results of fieldwork or laboratory research.
- Communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Geography
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Computers and Electronics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Category Flexibility
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Mathematical Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Git
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Tools & Equipment
- Abney levels
- Agitators
- All terrain vehicles ATV
- Alternating field demagnitizers
- Altimeters
- Analog map measurers
- Argon plasma atomic emission spectroscopes
- Atomic absorption AA spectrophotometers
- Automated core analysis systems
- Axes
- Biological dredges
- Borehole cameras
- Bottom sampling equipment
- Brunauer-Emmett-Teller BET surface area analyzers
- Carbon analyzers
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Telephone Conversations
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $58,790 |
| Median | $99,240 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $178,880 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 22,510
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Hydrologists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $92,060
Industrial Ecologists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Conservation Scientists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $67,950
Soil and Plant Scientists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $71,410
Geographers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $97,200
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.