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Geochemistry

Types of Degrees Geochemistry Majors Are Earning

Those studying Geochemistry have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	12
Master’s Degree	11
Doctor’s Degree	10

What Geochemistry Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Geochemistry develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Geochemistry graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Geochemistry emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Chemistry — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

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

Skills

Skills developed in a Geochemistry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Geochemistry careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Geochemistry graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.1 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.9 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Geochemistry professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
ESRI ArcGIS software	Geographic information system	✓
Collaborative editing software	Word processing software	—
iParadigms Turnitin	Information retrieval or search software	—
Sakai CLE	Computer based training software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Geochemistry graduates include:

• Instructor
• Lecturer
• College Professor
• University Faculty Member
• Adjunct Instructor
• Assistant Professor
• College Faculty Member
• Associate Professor
• Professor
• Research Coordinator
• Clinical Trials Manager
• Clinical Project Manager
• Geoscience Professor
• Volcanology Professor
• Geophysics Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Geochemistry graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	29.9%
Bachelor’s degree	25.2%
Doctoral degree	16.4%
Post-doctoral training	14.4%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.2%
Postsecondary certificate	3.1%
Some college courses	2.6%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.3%
High school diploma or equivalent	1.9%
Post-master’s certificate	1.0%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Geochemistry?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 51.5% women and 48.5% men among Geochemistry graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	17	51.5%
Men	16	48.5%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Geochemistry graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	21	63.6%
Asian	3	9.1%
Hispanic or Latino	3	9.1%
Two or More Races	1	3.0%
International Students	5	15.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Geochemistry Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Geochemistry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$42,682
4 years	$54,219
5 years	$61,701

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $61,701 — roughly 45% above the 1-year mark.

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

Is a Degree in Geochemistry Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Geochemistry graduates earn a median of $54,219 four years after completion — roughly 43% 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
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	40.06
Geochemistry and Petrology	40.0606
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other	40.0699
Geology/Earth Science, General	40.0601
Geophysics and Seismology	40.0603
Hydrology and Water Resources Science	40.0605
Oceanography, Chemical and Physical	40.0607
Paleontology	40.0604
Analytical Chemistry	40.0502
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other	40.0299
Astronomy	40.0201
Astrophysics	40.0202

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.