What You Need to Know About Geoscientist
Job Description & Duties 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, oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, crystallographers, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
Daily Life Of a Geoscientist
- Develop strategies for more environmentally friendly resource extraction and reclamation.
- Advise construction firms or government agencies on dam or road construction, foundation design, land use, or resource management.
- Review work plans to determine the effectiveness of activities for mitigating soil or groundwater contamination.
- Assess ground or surface water movement to provide advice on issues such as waste management, route and site selection, or the restoration of contaminated sites.
- Identify deposits of construction materials suitable for use as concrete aggregates, road fill, or other applications.
- Inspect construction projects to analyze engineering problems, using test equipment or drilling machinery.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Geoscientist?
Geoscientists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Other Geoscientist Job Titles
- Crystallographer
- Petroleum Geologist
- Micro Paleontologist
- Development Geologist
- Research Geologist
Job Demand for Geoscientists
There were about 32,000 jobs for Geoscientist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,500 new jobs for Geoscientist by 2026. The BLS estimates 3,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Geoscientist are Tennessee, Colorado, and Oregon. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, Vermont, or North Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Geoscientist Average Salary
The salary for Geoscientists ranges between about $49,430 and $187,990 a year.
Geoscientists who work in Texas, Oklahoma, or Louisiana, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Geoscientists in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $64,970 |
| Alaska | $99,400 |
| Arizona | $77,650 |
| Arkansas | $67,260 |
| California | $97,550 |
| Colorado | $111,130 |
| Connecticut | $85,250 |
| Delaware | $80,570 |
| Florida | $80,970 |
| Georgia | $68,860 |
| Hawaii | $109,530 |
| Idaho | $88,060 |
| Illinois | $69,480 |
| Indiana | $61,870 |
| Iowa | $71,490 |
| Kansas | $77,590 |
| Kentucky | $73,230 |
| Louisiana | $109,700 |
| Maine | $74,380 |
| Maryland | $90,110 |
| Massachusetts | $87,650 |
| Minnesota | $78,410 |
| Mississippi | $91,490 |
| Missouri | $70,340 |
| Montana | $92,680 |
| Nebraska | $79,570 |
| Nevada | $94,500 |
| New Hampshire | $95,510 |
| New Jersey | $98,050 |
| New Mexico | $86,620 |
| New York | $76,360 |
| North Carolina | $71,830 |
| North Dakota | $97,320 |
| Ohio | $75,600 |
| Oklahoma | $123,230 |
| Oregon | $74,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $108,580 |
| Rhode Island | $88,130 |
| South Carolina | $72,040 |
| South Dakota | $63,680 |
| Tennessee | $77,510 |
| Texas | $150,140 |
| Utah | $80,970 |
| Virginia | $96,290 |
| Washington | $93,710 |
| West Virginia | $77,530 |
| Wisconsin | $75,110 |
| Wyoming | $73,220 |
What Tools & Technology do Geoscientists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Geoscientists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Git
- Microsoft Outlook
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- MySQL
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- Geographic information system GIS software
- ESRI ArcView
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
Becoming a Geoscientist
What education is needed to be a Geoscientist?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Geoscientist?
Who Employs Geoscientists?
The table below shows the approximate number of Geoscientists employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Geoscientist might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Geoscientist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Kelvinsong via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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