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Other Mining & Petroleum Tech

Types of Degrees Other Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Other Mining & Petroleum Tech may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	5

What Other Mining & Petroleum Tech Majors Need to Know

Programs in Other Mining & Petroleum Tech develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Other Mining & Petroleum Tech graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Other Mining & Petroleum Tech emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Chemistry — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Other Mining & Petroleum Tech program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Time Management — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Other Mining & Petroleum Tech careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Information Ordering — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Other Mining & Petroleum Tech graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Documenting/Recording Information	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.1 / 7
Getting Information	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.9 / 7
Processing Information	3.8 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.6 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	3.6 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.6 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.6 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.5 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Other Mining & Petroleum Tech professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Landmark SeisWorks	Analytical or scientific software	—
SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports	Data base reporting software	—
Geographic resources analysis support system GRASS	Map creation software	—
Parallel Geoscience SPW	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Halliburton ProMAX	Analytical or scientific software	—
Golden Software Surfer	Map creation software	—
Seismic Micro-Technology KINGDOM	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Martin D Adamiker’s TruFlite	Map creation software	—
Dynamic Graphics EarthVision	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Clark Labs IDRISI Andes	Map creation software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Other Mining & Petroleum Tech graduates include:

• Construction Materials Field Technician (Construction Materials Field Tech)
• Petroleum Analyst
• Field Tester
• Electron Microprobe Operator
• Seismic Observer
• Materials Testing Technician
• Electric Well Logging Operator
• Seismic Plotter
• Mud Analysis Well-Logging Operator
• Tester
• Quality Control Technician (QC Technician)
• Oil Field Tester
• Geology Technician
• Locater Technician
• Oil Well Logger

Who Is Earning a Degree in Other Mining & Petroleum Tech?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 40% women and 60% men among Other Mining & Petroleum Tech graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	2	40.0%
Men	3	60.0%

How Much Do Other Mining & Petroleum Tech Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Other Mining & Petroleum Tech graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$57,450
4 years	$58,393
5 years	$65,518

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $65,518 — roughly 14% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Other Mining & Petroleum Tech Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Other Mining & Petroleum Tech graduates earn a median of $58,393 four years after completion — roughly 54% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians	15.09
Mining Technology/Technician	15.0901
Petroleum Technology/Technician	15.0903

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.