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$104,000 Starting Salary For Geologist - Salary Survey Reports

This article is more than 8 years old.

You may be surprised at the breadth of work that geologists study, from piecing together earth's history, to learning about how other planets formed to predicting what is underground. The study of geology allows you to answer questions about our world and provide insights into how it works.

As in geology, so in social institutions, we may discover the causes of all past changes in the present invariable order of society. - Henry David Thoreau

Salary Survey Of A Petroleum Geologist

The American Association of Petroleum Geologists reports every year on average salaries spanning years experience and degree acquired. You will notice that entry-level geologists earn on average $92,000, $104,400, and $117,300 for a bachelor, masters, and PhD degree in geology, respectively.

You will notice that salaries tend to increase significantly in the first 20 years and then tend to decrease or flatten out. This is largely a result of salary structures when you get to be very senior. Often times, the base salary no longer increases but your overall compensation increases in the form of better stock options, higher bonuses, and perks. These are not captured in the salary survey, leading to a potential misleading conclusion about senior geologists within the industry.

Anyone would agree these are fantastic salaries, however, there are pros and cons that come along with a career as a geologist that I will touch on below.

 Pros & Cons of a Career in Geology

You will notice that being a geologist is incredibly rewarding, however, there are advantages and disadvantages that should outweigh salary in considering a career in geology. I hope you'll get a better picture of what geologists do on a daily basis, their work life balance, and their general job tasks.

Pros

  • Ability to pursue questions and find answers about the world around us.
  • Good working hours, typically 40-50 hours with variance dependent on project delivery.
  • High earning potential touched on above.
  • Work in an international and diverse environment, with input from experts around the world.
  • Geologists tend to travel quite a bit, to look at rock outcrops, attend conferences, and view remote fields.

Cons

  • Most positions will require a masters or PhD to compete.
  • The oil and gas industry is cyclical and intimately tied with international oil price. This can lead to cycles of hiring and layoffs.
  • The majority of daily work life involves meetings and an office job.
  • You may need to live in harsh and remote conditions while performing fieldwork. *If you're a geologist, this isn't usually a con.

A career in geology is extremely rewarding and allows you to follow your passion to learn and always ask "Why?" Keep exploring and you will never grow old and never work a day in your life .

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