Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Under the title Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers, workers study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. Expect to locate and review research articles or environmental, historical, or technical reports. The strongest interest signal is Investigative (7.0 of 7), then Realistic (5.6) and Conventional, which gives it the code IRC. Plan on a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience; O*NET labels this considerable preparation. Strength in science, reading comprehension, and writing helps most here. You may also need to communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities. People who want research, analysis and working through hard problems usually fit better here than those who need leading, persuading and making business decisions.
What they do
Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
Main tasks
- Locate and review research articles or environmental, historical, or technical reports.
- Communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities.
- Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application.
- Prepare geological maps, cross-sectional diagrams, charts, or reports concerning mineral extraction, land use, or resource management, using results of fieldwork or laboratory research.
- Analyze and interpret geological data, using computer software.
- Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classification of soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains.
Skills
- Science
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
- You are comfortable relying on science and reading comprehension.
May not suit you if
- You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
- You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 1.7 out of 7 here.
- You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code IRC takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.
Preparation
Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Engineering Geologist
- Environmental Protection Geologist
- Exploration Geologist
- Geologist
- Geoscientist
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.