Geologists: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Geologists study the materials, processes, and history of the Earth. They investigate how rocks were formed and what has happened to them since their formation. There are subgroups of geologists as well, such as stratigraphers, who study stratified rock, and mineralogists, who study the structure and composition of minerals.
- Education Required
- Geoscientists typically need at least a bachelors degree for most entry-level positions. A geosciences degree is generally preferred by employers, although some geoscientists begin their careers with degrees in environmental science or engineering. Some geoscientist jobs require a masters degree.
- Job Outlook
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The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 14% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Geologists are licensed in 31 states. Although a license is not required to work as a geologist in many cases, geologists that offer services to the public in these states must be licensed. Public services include activities such as those associated with civil engineering projects, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance. Applicants must meet minimum education and experience requirements and earn a passing score on an exam. All states that license geologists use the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG), Fundamentals of Geology Exam (FGE).
- Median pay: How much do Geoscientists make?
- $89,780 Annual Salary
- $43.16 per hour
Careers for Geoscientists
- Crystallographers
- Development geologists
- Environmental geologists
- Exploration geologists
- Geochemists
- Geodesists
- Geomagnetists
- Geophysicists
- Mine geologists
- Mineralogists
- Mining production geologists
- Oceanographers
- Oceanologists
- Paleontologists
- Petroleum geologists
- Petrologists
- Research geologists
- Sedimentationists
- Seismologists
- Stratigraphers
- Volcanologists