What do they do?
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:
Development Geologist, Engineering Geologist, Environmental Protection Geologist, Exploration Geologist, Geologist, Geoscientist, Mine Geologist, Mining Production Geologist, Oceanographer, Petroleum Geologist, Project Geologist, Project Geophysicist, Research Geologist
No Data Available
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3.2%
Change
Ranks #35 in job growth rate30Job Openings
Ranks #26 in net job growth
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- Bachelor's degree (45%)
- Master's degree (41%)
- Doctorate or Professional Degree (14%)
- Associate's degree (<1%)
- Some college, no degree (<1%)
- High school diploma equivalent (<1%)
- Less than high school diploma (<1%)
Most Popular Majors that prepare Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
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#1
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Degrees Granted
3,832
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Female Students
2,003
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Male Students
1,829
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Median Starting Salary
$44,800
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#2
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Degrees Granted
662
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Female Students
360
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Male Students
302
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Median Starting Salary
$44,800
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#3
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Degrees Granted
419
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Female Students
258
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Male Students
161
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Median Starting Salary
$47,533
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#4
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Degrees Granted
234
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Female Students
146
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Male Students
88
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Median Starting Salary
$44,800
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#5
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Degrees Granted
65
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Female Students
26
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Male Students
39
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Median Starting Salary
$44,800
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People in this career often have these skills:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
People in this career often know a lot about:
- Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
People in this career often have talent in:
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
People in this career often do these activities:
- Review professional literature to maintain professional knowledge.
- Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
- Communicate results of environmental research.
- Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.
- Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.
- Design research studies to obtain scientific information.
- Prepare maps.
- Analyze geological or geographical data.
- Interpret research or operational data.
- Research geological features or processes.
- Locate natural resources using geospatial or other environmental data.
- Research hydrologic features or processes.
- Review plans or proposals for environmental conservation.
- Advise others on management of emergencies or hazardous situations or materials.
- Measure environmental characteristics.
- Analyze environmental data.
- Advise others about environmental management or conservation.
- Develop plans to manage natural or renewable resources.
- Proofread documents, records, or other files to ensure accuracy.
- Monitor construction operations.
- Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards.
- Develop software or applications for scientific or technical use.
- Collect data about project sites.
- Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.
- Research impacts of environmental conservation initiatives.
- Determine methods to minimize environmental impact of activities.
- Develop sustainable industrial or development methods.
- Coordinate cross-disciplinary research programs.
- Analyze geological samples.
This page includes data from:
Career data:
O*NET 31.0 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Employment Statistics
Videos:
CareerOneStop
, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
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