How To Become An Engineer And Geologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an engineer and geologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Magnificent bridges, electrifying electronics, and life-easing appliances are all works of an engineer. Simply put, engineers are people who put things together. They are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build, and test machines, structures, gadgets, and materials. They do this to make life easy for humankind, while also considering the safety, cost, practicality, and necessary regulations.

A geologist is a scientist who studies all the states of matter that constitute the universe as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists work in the mining and energy sectors searching for base metals, petroleum, petroleum, and other natural resources. They also help to reduce and prevent natural hazard damages like volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, and more. Studies generated by geologists are used to warn the public before these events occurs; hence, they are essential contributors to discussions about climate change.

ScoreEngineer And GeologistUS Average

Salary

7.7

Avg. Salary $101,882

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.5

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%

Asian 4.93%

Black or African American 0.89%

Hispanic or Latino 6.34%

Unknown 4.69%

White 82.56%

Gender

female 18.18%

male 81.82%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an engineer and geologist

Explore engineer and geologist education requirements

Most common engineer and geologist degrees

Bachelor's

72.4 %

Master's

17.9 %

Associate

5.1 %

Start to develop specific engineer and geologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Geotechnical	13.74%
Groundwater	9.40%
Project Site	7.17%
GIS	6.56%
Technical Reports	6.36%

Complete relevant engineer and geologist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New engineers and geologist learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an engineer and geologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real engineer and geologist resumes.

Research engineer and geologist duties and responsibilities

Manage numerous UST closures and site restorations
Conduct geotechnical investigations for commercial and residential soil and foundation design, seismic stability, grading and soil compaction testing.
Report writing for pavement construction and rehabilitation.
Conduct pavement management studies and recommend rehabilitation strategies using MicroPaver.

Prepare your engineer and geologist resume

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