How to hire an engineer and geologist

How to hire an engineer and geologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step engineer and geologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an engineer and geologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new engineer and geologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an engineer and geologist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an engineer and geologist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an engineer and geologist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an engineer and geologist that fits the bill.

   This list presents engineer and geologist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Engineer And Geologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Engineer And Geologist	Geoscientists study the physical aspects of the Earth, such as its composition, structure, and processes, to learn about its past, present, and future.	$30-78
   Environmental Technician	An environmental technician is responsible for identifying, evaluating, preventing, and controlling contamination of the environment. They study how it affects human health with the supervision of environmental engineers and environmental scientists... Show more	$14-24
   Geology Internship	In a geology internship, an intern has the opportunity to gain insights and practical experience while performing various support tasks under the directives and supervision of a geologist or manager. Their duties typically include working on different projects, conducting research, doing fieldwork, gathering and analyzing samples, collecting photographs or videos as evidence, completing surveys and assessments, and producing reports, submitting them according to protocols and standards... Show more	$38-70

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Geotechnical
   • Groundwater
   • Project Site
   • GIS
   • Technical Reports
   • Project Management
   • Data Collection
   • GINT
   • Dynamic Environment
   • Construction Projects
   • Site Investigations
   • Oil Gas
   • Civil Engineering
   • Construction Sites

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Perform site reconnaissance and slope stability analyses to back-calculate material strengths and design mitigation of incipient rock slide feature.
   • Perform slope stability drilling investigations, site inspection and supervision of slope stabilization construction of berms and concrete caisson piles.

   More engineer and geologist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the engineer and geologist job description is a good way to get more applicants. An engineer and geologist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an engineer and geologist in Nebraska may be lower than in Texas, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level engineer and geologist. Additionally, an engineer and geologist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average engineer and geologist salary

   $101,882yearly

   $48.98 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level engineer and geologist salary

   $63,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average engineer and geologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Texas	$122,493	$59
   2	California	$111,045	$53
   3	Arizona	$100,635	$48
   4	Alaska	$97,687	$47
   5	Washington	$94,168	$45
   6	Idaho	$90,564	$44
   7	Alabama	$85,832	$41
   8	New York	$80,608	$39
   9	Illinois	$67,339	$32
   10	Georgia	$63,599	$31
   11	Indiana	$55,810	$27

   Average engineer and geologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	MWH Americas Inc	$91,898	$44.18
   2	Kiewit	$85,220	$40.97
   3	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$82,333	$39.58	88
   4	Entech Engineering	$80,531	$38.72	1
   5	Oneida Total Integrated Enterprises	$77,951	$37.48
   6	Tetra Tech	$72,568	$34.89	20
   7	ENGEO	$68,925	$33.14	2
   8	San Bernardino County	$68,519	$32.94
   9	Alaska State Library	$59,165	$28.44
   10	Indiana State Police	$46,172	$22.20	1

4. Writing an engineer and geologist job description

   A good engineer and geologist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an engineer and geologist job description:

   Engineer and geologist job description example

   At Arcadis we focus on attracting, retaining and developing people who share our passion and commitment to improve quality of life. In return we offer you the opportunity to transform your world and the world around you, that could be through client work, upskilling yourself, championing equality and inclusion or getting involved in charity work, to name just a few. Our people value different perspectives, they care about the sustainability of our planet and dare to shape the future.
   
   One of our core values is 'people first', and supported by our Lovinklaan foundation, we invest in you for the long term, to ensure you reach your full potential. You'll have the opportunity to own your career and work on industry-defining projects, finding solutions to real challenges that make a difference to people's lives. You're encouraged to have a growth mindset and are given the space to develop personally and professionally, building a flexible career that works for you.
   
   Successful applicants for this position must have received or be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and be fully vaccinated, or have a qualifying exemption pursuant to Arcadis's interactive process. Proof of vaccination is required.
   Role description:
   
   Arcadis is seeking an experienced Geologist/Engineer to join our team in Augusta, GA.
   
   In this role, you will work alongside senior Geologists, Engineers, and Project Managers (PMs) to support a diverse portfolio of environmental remediation and restoration projects. You will oversee the day-to-day activities of entry-level staff; schedule and coordinate task resources and solicit guidance from senior-level technical staff and PMs.
   
   This position requires both field and office work; you should expect to be in the field/traveling up to 50% of the time. You must have a good driving record, be willing to work outside in all weather conditions and for extended periods. Fieldwork may be performed at project sites with environmental media (e.g., soil, sediment, groundwater, surface water, etc.) that has been impacted with hazardous substances and/or hazardous wastes.
   
   Role accountabilities:
   
   * Performing fieldwork, including conducting site assessments; overseeing/managing drilling, groundwater well installation, soil sampling, groundwater sampling, aquifer testing; subcontractor oversight/coordination; and safety inspections.
   * Assisting with the design, oversight, and analysis of environmental site investigations, including soil, and groundwater; development of conceptual site models; conceptual design and performance evaluation of remedial systems; and preparation of technical reports and presentations.
   * Assisting with the task management/coordination, technical data reviews, cost estimate preparation, health & safety plan preparation, report writing, regulatory file review, proposal writing, project strategy development, schedule and budget management, and establishment of subcontracts.
   * Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting field data.
   * Conducting project-related research (historical data, regulations, etc.)
   * Working effectively and collaboratively in team situations and establishing strong relationships with other teams, including training/mentoring junior staff.
   * Ensuring project compliance with Arcadis practices and quality and safety standards.
   * Interacting with the Client and regulatory agencies as part of the project team.
   
   Qualifications & Experience:
   
   Required Qualifications:
   
   * Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Geology, Hydrogeology or closely related field
   * 4 years of applicable experience
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   
   * Masters in Engineering, Geology, Hydrogeology or closely related field
   * Professional license or certification (PE, PG, EIT, GIT)
   * 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training
   * Experience working with different drilling and sampling methods, including bedrock drilling
   
   Why Become an Arcadian?
   
   Our work with clients has a direct impact on people's lives and on the planet. We make moving, living and belonging in cities safer, more resilient and more sustainable. By partnering with our clients as responsible custodians of our earth's resources, we can create a sustainable planet.
   
   We continue to think of new ways to make positive impacts and create better experiences for people; data driven and digital solutions have become part of the Arcadis DNA. Working together with clients and using techniques like design thinking, we can get to the heart of our clients' most pressing challenges and work together to solve them.
   
   As a global business, we have committed to support five of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that our projects contribute to a better and more sustainable future for all. But it's not just the work that we do on client projects that benefits communities and our planet. As a global business, we are committed to making a positive impact to society by supporting local communities where we operate.
   
   To help protect our planet, we monitor and measure non-financial information to inform business decisions and reduce our own environmental impact as part of our commitment to be net zero carbon as a global company by 2030.
   
   Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging:
   
   We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
   
   Transform Your World
   
   #Resilience-NA
   
   #Environment-NA
   
   #LI-RJ1

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find engineers and geologist for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your engineer and geologist job on Zippia to find and recruit engineer and geologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit engineers and geologist, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new engineer and geologist

   Once you've decided on a perfect engineer and geologist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new engineer and geologist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an engineer and geologist?