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Consulting geologist vs development geologist

The differences between consulting geologists and development geologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a consulting geologist and a development geologist. Additionally, a consulting geologist has an average salary of $112,160, which is higher than the $110,970 average annual salary of a development geologist.

The top three skills for a consulting geologist include GIS, technical reports and geotechnical. The most important skills for a development geologist are reservoir characterization, AFE, and production data.

Consulting geologist vs development geologist overview

Consulting GeologistDevelopment Geologist
Yearly salary$112,160$110,970
Hourly rate$53.92$53.35
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs5,48445,844
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

What does a consulting geologist do?

Geology Consultants are experts in their field who assist with different geology-related projects and research. They are generally specialized in petroleum, environmental, or hydrology geology.

What does a development geologist do?

A Development Geologist is responsible for geological static modeling and database management. They report best-practice technological advances to management.

Consulting geologist vs development geologist salary

Consulting geologists and development geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Consulting GeologistDevelopment Geologist
Average salary$112,160$110,970
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $191,000Between $71,000 And $171,000
Highest paying City-The Woodlands, TX
Highest paying state-Texas
Best paying company-Chevron
Best paying industry-Hospitality

Differences between consulting geologist and development geologist education

There are a few differences between a consulting geologist and a development geologist in terms of educational background:

Consulting GeologistDevelopment Geologist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorGeologyGeology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Consulting geologist vs development geologist demographics

Here are the differences between consulting geologists' and development geologists' demographics:

Consulting GeologistDevelopment Geologist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 86.8% Female, 13.2%Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 1.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Asian, 3.7% White, 82.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 1.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.6% Asian, 4.0% White, 83.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between consulting geologist and development geologist duties and responsibilities

Consulting geologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage task training and laboratory/field safety according to MSHA standards.
  • Work on projects in both oil and gas and environmental consulting using GIS base software, maintain database in Petra
  • Used Petra for mapping purposes and cross-sections.
  • Support Petra, SMT-Kingdom projects and software.
  • Initiate the geological and geotechnical pit mapping program, and a surveillance program for pit slope stability.
  • Operate a Trimble GPS (cm accuracy) unit to locate grid positions for a gravity survey.
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Development geologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the field budget, and liability of MWD field equipment.
  • Manage the installation of geophones, tiltmeters, inclinometers, passive vent wells, gas caps, and ORWs.
  • Create mineral rights lease maps utilizing ArcMap (GIS).
  • Correlate well logs using PETRA and other programs, and research production zones for solid and fluid minerals.
  • Prospect generation and development has been expedite by becoming proficient in Petra mapping software.
  • Review farm-out requests, prepare well prognoses, monitor area-drilling activity, and conduct miscellaneous well-site activities in Texas and Oklahoma.
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Consulting geologist vs development geologist skills

Common consulting geologist skills
  • GIS, 20%
  • Technical Reports, 16%
  • Geotechnical, 7%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • Data Interpretation, 5%
  • AU, 4%
Common development geologist skills
  • Reservoir Characterization, 22%
  • AFE, 7%
  • Production Data, 6%
  • Well Log, 6%
  • Petrel, 6%
  • Log Analysis, 6%

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