How much does a geologist make?

Geologists in the U.S. may earn more with experience, advanced study, or a state license, and pay changes with employer, location, and specialty. Mining and oil-and-gas roles can pay differently from government or consulting jobs; remote field trips and long, irregular hours can matter too.

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.

What's a typical day like?

A geologist may hike a rocky site, map the land, and collect rock or soil samples. Later, they test samples in a lab, study data on a computer, and write a report about what they found.

In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree in geoscience or a related field, and build field and lab experience; a college internship can help. Most states require geologists who serve the public to meet education and experience rules and pass an exam for a license.

Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)

Good for people who like figuring things out and building and doing.

Some geoscientists spend months away from home: oceanographers may stay aboard research ships, while paleontologists work for long periods in remote areas.