Becoming a Geologist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Western Governors University
is a US school (accredited) offering geology courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
geologists,
mine geologists,
project geologists,
exploration geologists,
environmental protection geologists,
hydrogeologists,
geological technicians,
geology professors,
biological, geological, and environmental sciences professors, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 14,460 people employed as
geological and petroleum technicians alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$58,400.
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers make on average $82,080
per year and there are about 6,310
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Western Governors University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Geologist
- dig sites
- classrooms
- desert
- excavation sites
- forests
- laboratory
- oil rigs
- deep sea
- on the shore
- volcanoes
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Geologist
- lots of travel
- great for nature lovers
- good adventure
- good exorcise
- balance of academic and physical demands
- benefits society in a variety of ways
- different aspects within geology to explore or opportunities
- one of the top earning brackets in australia
- allows others to be creative in construction resources and designs
- opportunity to teach after retiring from field work
Potential Drawbacks
- use different chemicals which can affect your health
- be under a microscope for long hours
- travel to forest to collect rocks
- write a detailed report each subjects
- buying expensive tools to examine your subjects
- work on fossils rocks minerals etc
- graduate first to get into a higher paying position
- live in the desert or forest areas
- do a lot of core samples soil samples and rock evaluations
- live frugally and below your means until you gain some experience
Related Professions to Consider
- Staff Environmental Geologist
- Field Geologist
- Project Geologist
- Project Engineer
- Project Environmental Geologist
- Hydrogeologist
- Senior Geologist
- Structural Geologist
- Certified Engineering Geologist
- Field Geologist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Geologist
- How is your geological experience relevant to the work that we do at this company?
- Why did you choose this profession?
- State some of your technical skills.?
- What are applications of ArcGIS Desktop?
- Why should I hire you?
- What did you make at your last job?
- How old is the earth?
- How many seismograph stations are needed to allocate the epicenter of an earthquake?
- How has the earth changed since it formed?
- What is the difference between a canyon, gorge, and valley?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Geophysicist
- Meteorologist
- Metallurgist
- Volcanologist
- Soil Scientist
- Oceanographer
- Exploration Geologist
- Atomospheric Scientist
- GeoEngineer
- Geoscientist
Geologist Training books
Geologist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Biology
- Geochemistry
- Geophysics
- Mineralogy
- Palaeontology
- Physical geology
- Applied Physics
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
- Environmental Science
- Geography
Geologist Salary Information
Category: Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
| Total # Employed in the US |
6,310 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$39.46/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $23.27 |
$29.29 |
$38.19 |
$47.21 |
$57.36 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$82,080 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $48,400 |
$60,920 |
$79,440 |
$98,190 |
$119,300 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.4% |
4.8% |
7.1% |
6.5% |
54.8% |
20.1% |
6.4% |
|
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$47/hr
|
$97,760
|
| Wyoming |
$46.22/hr
|
$96,130
|
| Alaska |
$45.77/hr
|
$95,200
|
| Connecticut |
$44.32/hr
|
$92,190
|
| Alabama |
$44.24/hr
|
$92,010
|
| South Dakota |
$44.18/hr
|
$91,900
|
| New York |
$41.73/hr
|
$86,800
|
| Ohio |
$40.5/hr
|
$84,230
|
| Massachusetts |
$39.24/hr
|
$81,610
|
| New Hampshire |
$38.8/hr
|
$80,700
|
| Nebraska |
$38.56/hr
|
$80,200
|
| Pennsylvania |
$38.13/hr
|
$79,300
|
| California |
$36.15/hr
|
$75,190
|
| South Carolina |
$35.84/hr
|
$74,550
|
| Maryland |
$35.26/hr
|
$73,350
|
| Kentucky |
$35.23/hr
|
$73,270
|
| New Jersey |
$34.32/hr
|
$71,390
|
| Montana |
$34.14/hr
|
$71,010
|
| Arkansas |
$34.05/hr
|
$70,830
|
| Missouri |
$33.88/hr
|
$70,480
|
| Oklahoma |
$33.52/hr
|
$69,730
|
| West Virginia |
$33.21/hr
|
$69,070
|
| Guam |
$33.15/hr
|
$68,950
|
| Iowa |
$33.11/hr
|
$68,860
|
| Utah |
$31.74/hr
|
$66,020
|
| Wisconsin |
$26.76/hr
|
$55,660
|
Category: Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
| Total # Employed in the US |
31,860 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$44.57/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20.74 |
$27.06 |
$39.05 |
$56.27 |
$77.53 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$92,710 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $43,140 |
$56,280 |
$81,220 |
$117,040 |
$161,260 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.3% |
0.8% |
3.4% |
3.3% |
47.6% |
34.9% |
9.7% |
|
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Wyoming |
$61.18/hr
|
$127,250
|
| Florida |
$51.52/hr
|
$107,160
|
| Alaska |
$50.2/hr
|
$104,410
|
| Connecticut |
$47.88/hr
|
$99,590
|
| South Dakota |
$46.29/hr
|
$96,290
|
| Missouri |
$43.8/hr
|
$91,100
|
| Nevada |
$42.27/hr
|
$87,920
|
| New York |
$40.81/hr
|
$84,890
|
| Massachusetts |
$40.8/hr
|
$84,860
|
| Colorado |
$40.6/hr
|
$84,460
|
| Mississippi |
$39.04/hr
|
$81,200
|
| North Dakota |
$37.93/hr
|
$78,890
|
| Indiana |
$36.96/hr
|
$76,870
|
| North Carolina |
$36.48/hr
|
$75,880
|
| Utah |
$36.4/hr
|
$75,710
|
| New Jersey |
$36.34/hr
|
$75,580
|
| Tennessee |
$35.74/hr
|
$74,340
|
| District of Columbia |
$34.84/hr
|
$72,460
|
| Ohio |
$34.36/hr
|
$71,470
|
| Kansas |
$34.19/hr
|
$71,110
|
| Montana |
$33.5/hr
|
$69,670
|
| Delaware |
$33.44/hr
|
$69,560
|
| Oklahoma |
$33.28/hr
|
$69,210
|
| Iowa |
$32.74/hr
|
$68,100
|
| Guam |
$32.58/hr
|
$67,770
|
| Arkansas |
$32.32/hr
|
$67,220
|
| Hawaii |
$31.9/hr
|
$66,360
|
| Alabama |
$31.49/hr
|
$65,490
|
| Nebraska |
$31.34/hr
|
$65,180
|
| Puerto Rico |
$31.28/hr
|
$65,060
|
| South Carolina |
$30.5/hr
|
$63,450
|
| Maine |
$30.31/hr
|
$63,040
|
| California |
$29.59/hr
|
$61,550
|
| Michigan |
$29.11/hr
|
$60,550
|
| Idaho |
$29/hr
|
$60,320
|
| Kentucky |
$28.94/hr
|
$60,200
|
| Maryland |
$28.86/hr
|
$60,030
|
| New Hampshire |
$28.8/hr
|
$59,900
|
| Louisiana |
$28.4/hr
|
$59,080
|
| New Mexico |
$28.34/hr
|
$58,960
|
| Wisconsin |
$25.37/hr
|
$52,770
|
| West Virginia |
$24.76/hr
|
$51,500
|
| Washington |
$21.68/hr
|
$45,100
|
Category: Urban and regional planners
| Total # Employed in the US |
38,950 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.1/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18.97 |
$23.42 |
$29.72 |
$37.4 |
$45.58 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$64,680 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $39,460 |
$48,700 |
$61,820 |
$77,790 |
$94,800 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.0% |
0.9% |
3.2% |
3.4% |
35.6% |
52.5% |
4.5% |
|
Urban and regional planners — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$40.33/hr
|
$83,890
|
| New York |
$37.89/hr
|
$78,820
|
| Colorado |
$37.89/hr
|
$78,800
|
| Kansas |
$36.01/hr
|
$74,910
|
| North Dakota |
$35.6/hr
|
$74,050
|
| Delaware |
$34.91/hr
|
$72,610
|
| Missouri |
$33.3/hr
|
$69,270
|
| Alaska |
$32.85/hr
|
$68,320
|
| Indiana |
$31.91/hr
|
$66,370
|
| Connecticut |
$31.33/hr
|
$65,170
|
| Mississippi |
$31.1/hr
|
$64,690
|
| Tennessee |
$30.91/hr
|
$64,280
|
| Virginia |
$30.76/hr
|
$63,990
|
| Nebraska |
$30.23/hr
|
$62,890
|
| Oklahoma |
$30.14/hr
|
$62,700
|
| Hawaii |
$30.11/hr
|
$62,630
|
| Montana |
$29.87/hr
|
$62,130
|
| Arkansas |
$29.83/hr
|
$62,050
|
| Maine |
$29.13/hr
|
$60,600
|
| New Mexico |
$29.06/hr
|
$60,450
|
| District of Columbia |
$29.04/hr
|
$60,410
|
| Idaho |
$27.82/hr
|
$57,870
|
| South Carolina |
$27.8/hr
|
$57,830
|
| Michigan |
$27.66/hr
|
$57,530
|
| South Dakota |
$27.65/hr
|
$57,510
|
| Pennsylvania |
$27.62/hr
|
$57,450
|
| Guam |
$27.57/hr
|
$57,340
|
| North Carolina |
$27.55/hr
|
$57,290
|
| Wyoming |
$27.41/hr
|
$57,010
|
| New Hampshire |
$26.99/hr
|
$56,150
|
| Ohio |
$26.98/hr
|
$56,110
|
| Oregon |
$26.61/hr
|
$55,340
|
| Louisiana |
$26.5/hr
|
$55,110
|
| Iowa |
$26.28/hr
|
$54,660
|
| Nevada |
$26.22/hr
|
$54,530
|
| Alabama |
$26.06/hr
|
$54,210
|
| West Virginia |
$24.39/hr
|
$50,720
|
| Puerto Rico |
$24.37/hr
|
$50,690
|
| Wisconsin |
$24.36/hr
|
$50,670
|
| Washington |
$24.35/hr
|
$50,650
|
| Kentucky |
$24.34/hr
|
$50,630
|
| Massachusetts |
$24.14/hr
|
$50,220
|
| New Jersey |
$23.75/hr
|
$49,410
|
| Utah |
$22.88/hr
|
$47,590
|
| California |
$21.59/hr
|
$44,900
|
| Maryland |
$19.84/hr
|
$41,260
|
Category: Geographers
| Total # Employed in the US |
1,170 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$34.33/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20.16 |
$26.59 |
$34.36 |
$41.79 |
$47.85 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$71,420 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $41,930 |
$55,310 |
$71,470 |
$86,920 |
$99,540 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
1.3% |
7.3% |
3.7% |
37.8% |
34.3% |
15.4% |
|
Geographers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Connecticut |
$36.67/hr
|
$76,270
|
| Oklahoma |
$36.17/hr
|
$75,220
|
| Mississippi |
$35.43/hr
|
$73,700
|
| Colorado |
$34.68/hr
|
$72,140
|
| Kansas |
$34.55/hr
|
$71,860
|
| Oregon |
$32.51/hr
|
$67,620
|
| Tennessee |
$29.98/hr
|
$62,360
|
| Wyoming |
$29/hr
|
$60,310
|
Category: Geological and petroleum technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
14,460 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$28.08/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.69 |
$18.06 |
$25.6 |
$35.04 |
$46.21 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$58,400 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,480 |
$37,570 |
$53,240 |
$72,880 |
$96,110 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 8.4% |
21.8% |
27.2% |
11.0% |
24.1% |
5.4% |
2.1% |
|
Geological and petroleum technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$39.33/hr
|
$81,800
|
| Alaska |
$30.89/hr
|
$64,250
|
| Connecticut |
$29.41/hr
|
$61,180
|
| Wyoming |
$29.18/hr
|
$60,680
|
| Massachusetts |
$28.52/hr
|
$59,330
|
| Nevada |
$27.66/hr
|
$57,530
|
| Oklahoma |
$27.5/hr
|
$57,190
|
| Missouri |
$27.09/hr
|
$56,340
|
| Maryland |
$26.62/hr
|
$55,380
|
| California |
$25.86/hr
|
$53,780
|
| Alabama |
$24.71/hr
|
$51,390
|
| North Dakota |
$24.23/hr
|
$50,400
|
| Kansas |
$23.36/hr
|
$48,590
|
| South Carolina |
$23.14/hr
|
$48,130
|
| South Dakota |
$22.06/hr
|
$45,880
|
| New Jersey |
$21.12/hr
|
$43,930
|
| Ohio |
$20.9/hr
|
$43,470
|
| Maine |
$20.6/hr
|
$42,850
|
| Utah |
$18.57/hr
|
$38,630
|
| Arkansas |
$18.45/hr
|
$38,380
|
| Hawaii |
$16.92/hr
|
$35,190
|
| Pennsylvania |
$16.84/hr
|
$35,020
|
| Washington |
$16.07/hr
|
$33,420
|
Category: Geological Sample Test Technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
14,460 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$28.08/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.69 |
$18.06 |
$25.6 |
$35.04 |
$46.21 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$58,400 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,480 |
$37,570 |
$53,240 |
$72,880 |
$96,110 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 8.4% |
21.8% |
27.2% |
11.0% |
24.1% |
5.4% |
2.1% |
|
