Federal, State, and local governments employ 18 percent of all
geoscientists.
Employers prefer applicants with a master’s degree for most
positions; a Ph.D. degree is required for most high-level research
and college teaching positions.
Excellent job opportunities are expected for graduates with a
master’s degree.
Geoscientists study the composition, structure, and other
physical aspects of the Earth. They study the Earth’s geologic past
and present by using sophisticated instruments to analyze the
composition of earth, rock, and water. Many geoscientists help to
search for natural resources such as groundwater, metals, and
petroleum. Others work closely with environmental and other
scientists to preserve and clean up the environment.
Geoscientists usually study and work in one of several closely
related fields of geoscience. Geologists study the
composition, processes, and history of the Earth. They try to find
out how rocks were formed and what has happened to them since their
formation. They also study the evolution of life by analyzing plant
and animal fossils. Geophysicists use the principles of
physics, mathematics, and chemistry to study not only the Earth’s
surface, but also its internal composition, ground and surface
waters, atmosphere, oceans, and magnetic, electrical, and
gravitational forces.
Within these two major disciplines of geology and geophysics are
numerous subspecialties. For example, petroleum geologists
map the subsurface of the ocean or land as they explore the terrain
for oil and gas deposits. They use sophisticated instrumentation and
computers to interpret geological information. Engineering
geologists apply geologic principles to the fields of civil and
environmental engineering, offering advice on major construction
projects and assisting in environmental remediation and natural
hazard-reduction projects. Mineralogists analyze and classify
minerals and precious stones according to their composition and
structure. They study the environment surrounding rocks in order to
find new mineral resources. Sedimentologists study the
nature, origin, distribution, and alteration of sediments, such as
sand, silt, and mud. These sediments may contain oil, gas, coal, and
many other mineral deposits. Paleontologists study fossils
found in geological formations to trace the evolution of plant and
animal life and the geologic history of the Earth. Stratigraphers
examine the formation and layering of rocks to understand the
environment which formed them. Volcanologists investigate
volcanoes and volcanic phenomena to try to predict the potential for
future eruptions and hazards to human health and welfare. Glacial
geologists study the physical properties and movement of
glaciers and ice sheets. Geochemists study the nature and
distribution of chemical elements in groundwater and earth
materials.
Geophysicists specialize in areas such as geodesy, seismology,
and magnetic geophysics. Geodesists study the Earth’s size,
shape, gravitational field, tides, polar motion, and rotation.
Seismologists interpret data from seismographs and other
geophysical instruments to detect earthquakes and locate
earthquake-related faults. Geomagnetists measure the Earth’s
magnetic field and use measurements taken over the past few
centuries to devise theoretical models that explain the Earth’s
origin. Paleomagnetists interpret fossil magnetization in
rocks and sediments from the continents and oceans to record the
spreading of the sea floor, the wandering of the continents, and the
many reversals of polarity that the Earth’s magnetic field has
undergone through time. Other geophysicists study atmospheric
sciences and space physics. (See the statement on atmospheric
scientists, and physicists and
astronomers, elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Oceanographers use their knowledge of geology and
geophysics, in addition to biology and chemistry, to study the
world’s oceans and coastal waters. They study the motion and
circulation of the ocean waters; the physical and chemical
properties of the oceans; and how these properties affect coastal
areas, climate, and weather. Oceanographers are further broken down
according to their areas of expertise. For example, physical
oceanographers study the tides, waves, currents, temperatures,
density, and salinity of the ocean. They examine the interaction of
various forms of energy, such as light, radar, sound, heat, and
wind, with the sea, in addition to investigating the relationship
between the sea, weather, and climate. Chemical
oceanographers study the distribution of chemical compounds and
chemical interactions that occur in the ocean and on the sea floor.
They may investigate how pollution affects the chemistry of the
ocean. Geological and geophysical oceanographers study the
topographic features and the physical makeup of the ocean floor.
Their knowledge can help companies find oil and gas off coastal
waters. (Biological oceanographers, often called marine
biologists, study the distribution and migration patterns of the
many diverse forms of sea life in the ocean; the statement on biological scientists
discusses this occupation elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Geoscientists in research positions with the Federal Government
or in colleges and universities frequently are required to design
programs and write grant proposals in order to fund their research.
Geoscientists in consulting jobs face similar pressures to market
their skills and write proposals so that they will have steady
work.
Work environment. Geoscientists can spend a large
part of their time in the field, identifying and examining rocks,
studying information collected by remote sensing instruments in
satellites, conducting geological surveys, constructing field maps,
and using instruments to measure the Earth’s gravity and magnetic
field. They often perform seismic studies, for example, which
involve bouncing energy waves off buried layers of rock, to search
for oil and gas or to understand the structure of the subsurface
layers. Similarly, they use seismic signals generated by an
earthquake to determine the earthquake’s location and intensity. In
laboratories, geologists and geophysicists examine the chemical and
physical properties of specimens. They study fossil remains of
animal and plant life or experiment with the flow of water and oil
through rocks.
Some geoscientists spend the majority of their time in an office,
but many others divide their time between fieldwork and office or
laboratory work. Work at remote field sites is common. Many
geoscientists, such as volcanologists, often take field trips that
involve physical activity. Geoscientists in the field may work in
warm or cold climates and in all kinds of weather. In their
research, they may dig or chip with a hammer, scoop with a net, and
carry equipment in a backpack. Oceanographers may spend considerable
time at sea on academic research ships. Geologists frequently travel
to remote field sites by helicopter or 4-wheel-drive vehicles and
cover large areas on foot. Many exploration geologists and
geophysicists work in foreign countries, sometimes in remote areas
and under difficult conditions. Travel often is required to meet
with prospective clients or investors. Fieldwork often requires
working long hours.
A master’s degree is the primary educational requirement for most
entry-level positions. A Ph.D. is necessary for most high-level
research and college teaching positions, but a master’s degree is
preferred for most other geoscience jobs.
Education and training. A bachelor’s degree is
adequate for a few entry-level positions, but most geoscientists
need a master’s degree in geology or earth science. A master’s
degree is the preferred educational requirement for most entry-level
research positions in private industry, Federal agencies, and State
geological surveys. A Ph.D. is necessary for most high-level
research and college teaching positions, but it may not be preferred
for other jobs.
Many colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s or higher
degree in a geoscience. Traditional geoscience courses emphasizing
classical geologic methods and topics (such as mineralogy,
petrology, paleontology, stratigraphy, and structural geology) are
important for all geoscientists. People who study physics,
chemistry, biology, mathematics, engineering, or computer science
may also qualify for some geoscience positions if their course work
includes geology.
Licensure. A number of States require geoscientists
who offer their services directly to the public, particularly
geologists, to obtain a license from a State licensing board.
Licensing requirements vary but often include education, experience,
and a passing score on an examination.
Other qualifications. Computer skills are essential
for prospective geoscientists; students who have experience with
computer modeling, data analysis and integration, digital mapping,
remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will be the
most prepared entering the job market. Knowledge of the Global
Positioning System (GPS)—a locator system that uses satellites—has
also become essential. Some employers seek applicants with field
experience, so a summer internship is often helpful.
Geoscientists must have good interpersonal skills because they
usually work as part of a team with other geoscientists and with
environmental scientists, engineers, and technicians. Strong oral
and written communication skills also are important because writing
technical reports and research proposals and explaining research
results in person are important aspects of the work. Because many
jobs require foreign travel, knowledge of a second language is
becoming increasingly beneficial.
Geoscientists must be inquisitive, able to think logically, and
capable of complex analytical thinking, including spatial
visualization and the ability to infer conclusions from sparse data.
Those involved in fieldwork must have physical stamina.
Advancement. Geoscientists often begin their
careers in field exploration or as research assistants or
technicians in laboratories or offices. As they gain experience,
they get more assignments that are difficult. Eventually, some are
promoted to project leader, program manager, or to a senior research
position. Those who choose to work in management will spend more
time scheduling, budgeting, and reporting to top executives or
clients. (See the statement on engineering and natural
sciences managers elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Geoscientists held about 31,000 jobs in 2006. Many more
individuals held geoscience faculty positions in colleges and
universities, but they are classified as college and university
faculty. (See the statement on teachers—postsecondary
elsewhere in the Handbook.)
About 24 percent of geoscientists were employed in architectural,
engineering, and related services, and 18 percent worked for oil and
gas extraction companies. In 2006, State agencies such as State
geological surveys and State departments of conservation employed
about 2,900 geoscientists. Another 2,600 worked for the Federal
Government, including geologists, geophysicists, and oceanographers,
mostly within the U.S. Department of the Interior for the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) and within the U.S. Department of Defense.
About 2 percent of geoscientists were self-employed, most as
consultants to industry or government.
Although employment growth will vary by industry, overall
employment of geoscientists is expected to grow much faster than the
average for all occupations. Graduates with a master’s degree can
expect excellent job opportunities; very few geoscientist jobs are
available to bachelor’s degree holders. Ph.D.s should face
competition for basic research and college teaching jobs.
Employment change. Employment growth of 22 percent
for geoscientists is expected between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the
average for all occupations. The need for energy,
environmental protection, and responsible land and water management
will spur employment demand. Employment in management, scientific,
and technical consulting services should continue to grow as more
geoscientists work as consultants. These services have increased
their hiring of geoscientists in recent years because of increased
government contracting, and private corporations’ need for technical
assistance and environmental management plans. Moreover, many
geoscientists monitor the quality of the environment, including
aquatic ecosystems, deteriorating coastal environments, and rising
sea levels—all of which will create employment growth for them. An
expected increase in highway building and other infrastructure
projects will also be a source of jobs for engineering geologists.
Employment is also expected to increase in the oil and gas
extraction industry. Many geoscientists work in the exploration and
production of oil and gas. Historically, employment of petroleum
geologists, geophysicists, and some other geoscientists has been
cyclical and affected considerably by the price of oil and gas. When
prices are low, oil and gas producers curtail exploration activities
and lay off geologists. When prices were higher, companies had the
funds and incentive to renew exploration efforts and to hire
geoscientists in larger numbers. In recent years, however, a growing
worldwide demand for oil and gas and for new exploration and
recovery techniques—particularly in deep water and previously
inaccessible sites in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico—has created some
stability to the petroleum industry. Geoscientists who speak a
foreign language and who are willing to work abroad should enjoy the
best opportunities, as the need for energy, construction materials,
and a broad range of geoscience expertise grows in developing
nations.
Job prospects. Graduates with a master’s degree
should have excellent opportunities, especially in the management,
scientific and technical consulting industry and in the engineering
services industries. In addition to demand resulting from job
growth, replacing those who leave the occupation for retirement,
managerial positions, or other careers will generate a number of
jobs. With relatively few students earning master’s degrees in the
geosciences, job openings may exceed the number of qualified job
seekers over the 2006-16 projection decade. However, geoscientists
with doctoral degrees, who primarily work as college and university
faculty or do basic research, may face competition. There are few
openings for new graduates with only a bachelor’s degree in
geoscience, but these graduates may have favorable opportunities in
related occupations, such as high school science teacher or science
technician.
There will be fewer opportunities for geoscientists in Federal
and State government, mostly because of budget constraints at key
agencies, such as the USGS, and the trend among governments toward
contracting out to consulting firms instead of hiring new government
employees. However, departures of geoscientists who retire or leave
the government for other reasons will result in some job openings
over the next decade.
Geoscientists may face layoffs during periods of economic
recession. Especially vulnerable are those in consulting and, to a
lesser extent, workers in Government. Employment for those working
in the production of oil and gas, however, will largely be dictated
by the cyclical nature of the energy sector and changes in
government policy, although less so than in the past.
Median annual earnings of geoscientists were $72,660 in May 2006.
The middle 50 percent earned between $51,860 and $100,650; the
lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,740, the highest 10 percent
more than $135,950.
The petroleum, mineral, and mining industries offer higher
salaries, but less job security, than other industries because
economic downturns sometimes cause layoffs.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers,
beginning salary offers in July 2007 for graduates with bachelor’s
degrees in geology and related sciences averaged $40,786 a year.
In 2007, the Federal Government’s average salary was $87,392 for
geologists, $100,585 for geophysicists, and 93,461 for
oceanographers.
Information on training and career opportunities for geologists
is available from either of the following organizations:
American Association of Petroleum Geologists, P.O. Box 979,
Tulsa, OK 74101. Internet: http://www.aapg.org/
American Geological Institute, 4220 King St., Alexandria, VA
22302-1502. Internet: http://www.agiweb.org/
Information on obtaining a position as a geologist, geophysicist,
or oceanographer with the Federal Government is available from the
Office of Personnel Management through USAJOBS, the Federal
Government’s official employment information system. This resource
for locating and applying for job opportunities can be accessed
through the Internet at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ or through an
interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724-1850 or TDD
(978) 461-8404. These numbers are not toll free, and charges may
result.
Suggested citation: Bureau of
Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook
Handbook, 2008-09 Edition,
Geoscientists, on the Internet
at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos288.htm
(visited June 11, 2008).
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