
What Does a Geoscientist Do?
Do you love learning all about this planet we live on? Then you may enjoy a career as a geoscientist. This exciting career involves being outside, visiting new places, and helping protect the Earth’s natural resources.听
If the word geoscientist is new to you, you may be wondering, what are they? Or, what does one do? This career guide lays out everything you need to know, including how to become a geoscientist, types of geoscientists, and more.
- What are Geoscientists?
- Where Do Geoscientists Work?
- Average Geoscientist Salary
- What is the Job Outlook for Geoscientists?
- What Education is Needed to Become a Geoscientist?
Are you fascinated with studying the Earth through maps? Then consider聽becoming a GIS Analyst.听
Geoscientists study the physical aspects of the Earth鈥檚 composition, including the atmosphere, water, soil, and the Earth鈥檚 crust. A geoscientist’s job description can vary depending on where they work and at what level. This guide will help you navigate all the career possibilities for geoscientists.听
Career Path Overview for Geoscientist |
|
Education Requirements |
Bachelor鈥檚 Degree |
Recommended Degree Program |
BS in Environmental Science and Climate Change |
Average Salary (2021) |
$83,680 |
Workers Employed in U.S. (2020) |
29,000 |
Projected Job Openings by 2030 |
2,000 |
Projected Growth Rate |
7% (As fast as average) |
Other Job Titles |
Geologist, Earth Scientist, Geophysicist |
Related Careers |
Environmental Engineer,听Hydrologist, and聽Sustainability Manager |
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What are Geoscientists?
Are you still unclear on what is a geoscientist? To put it most simply, geoscientists are scientists who study the Earth. This includes studying the Earth鈥檚 crust, the minerals found in rocks, and other physical elements of the planet to understand how they have changed throughout history. They may also use this data to help find natural resources like metals and oil. Some geophysicists work to preserve the Earth鈥檚 natural resources, while others work to extract them.听
- 骋别辞濒辞驳颈蝉迟蝉听study rocks, including how they were formed and what they are composed of.听
- 厂别颈蝉尘辞濒辞驳颈蝉迟蝉听measure Earth鈥檚 movements. They study earthquakes and tsunamis and use technology to predict these events and help keep people safe.听
- 骋别辞肠丑别尘颈蝉迟蝉听study the composition of water, rocks, soil, and other natural resources.听
- 骋别辞辫丑测蝉颈肠颈蝉迟蝉听use physics to understand certain properties of the Earth, such as gravity and magnetic fields.听
While earth scientists take flora and fauna into account when studying the Earth, they usually do not work directly with animals. If you are interested in studying animals, consider a聽career as a wildlife biologist.听
Where Do Geoscientists Work?
Now that you can answer the question, what do geoscientists do, let鈥檚 look at where they work. Based on data collected by the聽, 26% of geoscientists work for architectural, engineering, and related services. The next most common types of employers are management, consulting, and scientific services such as laboratories.
Geoscientists usually work full time, but they may have irregular hours when they are in the field. This job requires some travel to conduct fieldwork and monitor project progression. Scientists generally split their time between fieldwork, lab work, and office work. Entry-level geoscientists may be asked to do more fieldwork and lab testing than higher-level scientists who work primarily in offices, managing projects and traveling to meet with clients.听
Average Geoscientist Salary
According to the BLS, the median geoscientist salary is $83,680 per year. The top 10% earn $172,490 per year on average, while the bottom 10% earn $48,880 per year.
The salary of a geoscientist varies based on numerous factors, including experience, location, and industry. The highest-paying industries are oil and gas, mining, and the federal government.
Top 5 States for Geoscientist Salary in U.S. |
||
State |
Average Annual Salary |
Average Hourly Rate |
Texas |
$144,950 |
$69.69 |
Oklahoma |
$136,680 |
$65.71 |
Colorado |
$107,750 |
$51.80 |
Massachusetts |
$106,850 |
$51.37 |
California |
$105,280 |
$50.61 |
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What is the Job Outlook for Geoscientists?聽
罢丑别听聽for the next ten years with an increase of 7%. This rate is about as fast as the average employment growth across all occupations. In 2020, approximately 29,000 geophysicists were working in the United States, and experts predict that there will be 2,000 more jobs by 2030. Many of these new jobs will be聽working in the energy sector聽to help create alternative and renewable forms of energy.听
What Education is Needed to Become a Geoscientist?聽
Most geoscientist jobs require a bachelor鈥檚 degree in geoscience or a related major such as geology or environmental science. This typically takes four years to complete after high school. Education includes laboratory and fieldwork experience.听
Many geophysicists must also acquire a license from their state, especially those working for the government or on any public services such as civil engineering projects. If you work for a private company, a license may not be required depending on what state you live in. Check your state for specific geoscientist licensure requirements.
Geoscientist High School Recommendations
You can begin preparing for your career in geoscience before you even start college. Take an environmental science elective if your high school offers one. Computer science and other science and math courses will give you an important foundation for understanding geoscience. Extracurriculars are another great opportunity to build your science, math, and technology skills. Look for a computer programming or sustainability club at your school.
Geoscientist College Education Recommendations
Geoscience is a multidisciplinary field of study combining earth science, math, engineering, and technology. Therefore, several majors could provide you with the education and skills needed to get a job as a geoscientist after graduation.
- Environmental Science
- Geology
- Hydrology
- Geophysics
- Geochemistry
- Data Science
No matter which program you choose, make sure it includes geology courses, lab-based courses, and fieldwork. These are essential to becoming a qualified geoscientist. If you are interested in focusing on research, you may want to consider pursuing a master鈥檚 degree or Ph.D. in geoscience. Or, you can expand your geoscience skillset with a聽Master鈥檚 in Environmental Geographic Information Science.听
Not ready to dive into a degree yet? Get a taste of what it鈥檚 like to be a geoscientist with a聽5-week introductory online course in geology from 91桃色视频.听

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Explore More Career Paths Related to Geoscientist
Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers solve problems using their knowledge of the Earth, math, and technology. They may develop solutions to clean a polluted river, for example. Like geoscientists, environmental engineers must have a strong understanding of the Earth鈥檚 composition. This job also requires fieldwork to analyze sites and monitor project progress. If you love creating, building, and solving problems, a career in environmental engineering may be right for you.听
Hydrologist
Hydrologists are like geoscientists, but they focus on studying water rather than all of Earth鈥檚 composition. Some hydrologists work for local utility companies and governments to maintain drinking water quality and availability. Others focus on helping to conserve groundwater and reduce contamination. Water is essential to all life on Earth, so the work hydrologists do is extremely important.听