Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers: Career Profile
Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.
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The Daily Work of Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Do?
Typical responsibilities of mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers cover:
- Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
- Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
- Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
- Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
- Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
- Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
- Supervise, train, and evaluate technicians, technologists, survey personnel, engineers, scientists or other mine personnel.
- Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Coal Mine Inspector
- Engineer
- Exploration Engineer
- Field Engineer
- Geological Engineer
- Geophysical Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Geotechnical Project Engineer
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 244,231 mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +6.2% over the projection horizon.
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $138,303 |
| Hourly median | $66.49 |
| 10th percentile | $87,612 |
| 25th percentile | $112,958 |
| 75th percentile | $163,648 |
| 90th percentile | $188,994 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $142,520 |
| Michigan | $125,600 |
| Florida | $116,430 |
| New Mexico | $114,930 |
| Wyoming | $113,870 |
| Nevada | $113,140 |
| Utah | $110,960 |
| Indiana | $110,590 |
| Alaska | $109,350 |
| South Dakota | $105,170 |
| Idaho | $104,220 |
| Oklahoma | $103,510 |
| Kentucky | $102,910 |
| Arizona | $102,780 |
| Alabama | $101,480 |
| Texas | $101,190 |
| Montana | $99,830 |
| Tennessee | $98,980 |
| Virginia | $98,690 |
| Wisconsin | $97,610 |
| Minnesota | $94,190 |
| Maryland | $93,360 |
| Ohio | $91,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $89,300 |
| Oregon | $86,140 |
| West Virginia | $84,000 |
| New York | $79,990 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $122,338 | 30.4% | 7.18 |
| Southwest | $104,897 | 18.5% | 4.22 |
| Plains States | $97,850 | 1.6% | 0.83 |
| Middle Atlantic | $93,360 | 0.9% | 0.46 |
| Southeast | $92,457 | 13.1% | 7.16 |
| Rocky Mountains | $49,546 | 23.3% | 5.88 |
| Great Lakes | $46,470 | 12.3% | 1.06 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $163,490 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $158,760 | 200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $142,520 | 340 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $115,270 | 170 |
| Richmond, VA | VA | $111,790 | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | IN | $110,590 | |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $110,540 | 230 |
| Tucson, AZ | AZ | $107,330 | 150 |
Which Industries Hire Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
Most mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3,060 | $93,340 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 2,680 | $101,260 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 370 | $127,990 |
| Construction | 50 | $83,040 |
Below are examples of industries where mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers work:
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Education and Training
Typical mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Geothermal Production Managers (Primary-Short)
- Construction Managers (Supplemental)
- Chemical Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Civil Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Water/Wastewater Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Industrial Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Manufacturing Engineers (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers typically earn programs in:
Engineering
3 programs across 3 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-2151.00 (Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers).
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