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Environmental Geologist Projected Growth In The United States

OverviewJobsHow To BecomeSkillsEducationDemographicsJob DescriptionHow To Hire

Trends

Full Time Jobs

Research Summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • Salaries have increased 6% for environmental geologists in the last 5 years

  • Projected job growth for environmental geologists is 8% from 2018-2028

  • There are over 25,400 environmental geologists currently employed in the United States

  • There are 16,395 active environmental geologist job openings in the US based on job postings

  • The average salary for an environmental geologist is $64,927

Are Environmental Geologist Jobs In Demand?

Yes, environmental geologist jobs are in demand. The job market for analysts is projected to grow 8% from 2018 to 2028.

Job Growth Estimate
8%
Most Common City
Roseville, CA
Most Common State
North Dakota

Environmental Geologist Job and Salary Trends Over Time

Compare the number of jobs and average salary for environmental geologists over time.

Environmental Geologist Jobs Over Time

Environmental Geologist Job Growth Over Time

Year# Of Jobs% Of Population
201229,0550.01%
201329,9000.01%
201430,2040.01%
201529,4810.01%
201628,4300.01%
Show More

Average Environmental Geologist Salary Over Time

Environmental Geologist Salary By Year

YearAvg. SalaryHourly Rate% Change
2008$46,662$22.43-
2009$49,739$23.91+6.6%
2010$51,760$24.88+4.1%
2011$52,975$25.47+2.3%
2012$54,092$26.01+2.1%
Show More
Top Environmental Geologist Jobs Near You

Number Of Environmental Geologists By State

Mouse over a state to see the number of active environmental geologist jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where environmental geologists earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Most Common States For Environmental Geologists

RankStatePopulation# of JobsEmployment/
1000ppl
1North Dakota755,393709%
2Alaska739,795679%
3District of Columbia693,972629%
4Maine1,335,907937%
5Massachusetts6,859,8192704%
6Minnesota5,576,6062014%
7Connecticut3,588,1841454%
8Iowa3,145,7111254%
9Nebraska1,920,076854%
10Montana1,050,493394%
11Wyoming579,315234%
12California39,536,65310113%
13Virginia8,470,0202603%
14Washington7,405,7432473%
15New Jersey9,005,6442343%
16Kansas2,913,123773%
17West Virginia1,815,857593%
18Idaho1,716,943503%
19New Hampshire1,342,795433%
20Rhode Island1,059,639353%

Most Common Cities For Environmental Geologists In The US

RankCity# of JobsEmployment/
1000ppl
Avg. Salary
1Roseville22%$91,693
2Ontario11%$83,420
3Orange11%$83,177
4Pasadena11%$84,178
5Southfield11%$63,736
6Sunnyvale11%$92,773
7Oakland20%$93,163
8Phoenix20%$55,109
9Baton Rouge10%$60,721
10Chicago10%$61,221
11Long Beach10%$83,406
12San Jose10%$92,522
13Tampa10%$47,176
14Washington10%$91,778

Experts Weigh In On Environmental Geologist Job Outlook

We spoke to professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the job market for recent graduates is heading, as well as how young graduates entering the industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.

Our Panel of Experts

Christine Lilek

American Institute of Professional Geologists

Daniel Larsen

The University of Memphis

Dr. David Malone Ph.D.

Illinois State University

Peter Clift

Louisiana State University

Richard Tollo Ph.D.

George Washington University

Top Environmental Geologist Jobs Near You

Christine Lilek

Vice President National AIPG

American Institute of Professional Geologists

What skills stand out on Environmental Geologist resumes?

Christine Lilek: -BS in Environmental Engineering, Geology, Hydrogeology; MS is a plus or equivalent experience.
-G.I.T. (Geologist In Training) or Early Career Professional (from AIPG) is desirable; CPG (from AIPG) or -State PG, or ability to obtain such credential is a plus.
-Excellent computer skills with MS Office, MS Project, PowerPoint, and other computer applications, GIS, and AutoCAD experience are a plus.
-OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER certification is desirable
-Documentation of environmental sustainability projects
-Documentation of diversity and inclusion policy implementation

What soft skills should all Environmental Geologists possess?

Christine Lilek: -Ability to build strong relationships with partners and clients concerning their technical area and the broader business objectives.
-Ability to communicate technical information with clients, engineers and scientists, government regulators and agencies, and academia, as well as non-technical communication to the public.
-Ability to build and maintain productive professional and personal networking relationships.
-Ability to interact professionally with a client and subcontractor representatives.
-Ability to understand and follow all applicable health and safety policies and procedures.
-Ability to understand and follow all established industry standards, policies, procedures, and guidelines to complete projects.

What hard/technical skills are most important for Environmental Geologists?

Christine Lilek: -List all your field sampling techniques you have practiced (groundwater and surface water sampling, wastewater sampling, solid/hazardous waste sampling, sediment sampling, soil sampling, soil vapor sampling, air sampling, environmental drilling and logging, and windshield surveys).
-List the various environmental and engineering permits and regulatory compliance reporting documents you have completed for class or as an intern (air permits, stormwater, and wastewater permits, air emissions inventories, hazardous material inventories, and toxic release inventories)
-List the various office tasks you have practiced or completed as an intern (reviewing environmental regulations and guidance documents; reviewing requests for proposals and professional qualifications; tabulating and interpreting environmental and engineering data; preparing cost estimates, proposals, and technical memorandums; and communicating with project managers and support team on project progress).

What skills will help Environmental Geologists earn the most?

Christine Lilek: -Demonstrate initiatives and projects you have completed by collaborating with teams. Team leadership skills are highly desirable. Being able to self-motivate and complete an individual project is also very important.
-Demonstrate and be able to provide examples of successful presentations and proposals provided to clients and regulators.
-Demonstrate your ability to travel and successfully work at remote project sites, including an extended assignment.
-Demonstrate strong and clear communication, writing, time management, and organizational skills.
-Demonstrate good problem-solving skills and willingness to respond to instruction.

Daniel Larsen

Professor of Earth Sciences

The University of Memphis

Department of Earth Sciences

Website

What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Environmental Geologist job market given the pandemic?

Daniel Larsen: The job market in our region is soft in geology, but recent graduates have found employment at government agencies (state environmental divisions, and state and federal surveys) and environmental and engineering consulting firms. I expect these trends to continue. Energy and mineral industries are conducting little hiring in our region, and I expect this trend to continue during pandemic and under the current federal administration.

What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Environmental Geologists?

Daniel Larsen: Expectations for geology job candidates include traditional geologic training as well as environmental and hydrogeology background, and skills using GIS, spatial analysis, spreadsheet and some modeling programs, depending on disciple of hiring. State licensure and GIS and OSHA certifications are desirable.

What's a good job out of college for Environmental Geologists?

Daniel Larsen: At the Bachelors level, typical entry-level jobs include environmental technicians and specialists (state environmental divisions), and mud loggers in the petroleum industry. At the Masters level, typical jobs include entry-level environmental project managers or support staff, higher level technical staff at state environmental divisions, and entry-level state and federal survey positions, as well as mud loggers and entry-level positions in the petroleum industry.

Dr. David Malone Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor of Geology

Illinois State University

Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment

Website
|
LinkedIn

What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Environmental Geologist job market given the pandemic?

Dr. David Malone Ph.D.: I assume that you mean the job market for Geology? Oil and gas are in terrible shape. Even the big companies are enduring a great many layoffs. Minerals, and in particular gold, are getting hotter. I have had a number of companies ask about interns and permanent positions of our students. Construction (geotechnical) and environmental consulting companies are doing really well.

What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Environmental Geologists?

Dr. David Malone Ph.D.: Most entry-level Geology positions don't require special certification or licenses. The Certified Professional Geologist license comes further down the road after some experience is gained. This is most important to environmental consulting companies.

What's a good job out of college for Environmental Geologists?

Dr. David Malone Ph.D.: Any job is a good job out of college! Geology is broad enough, and our graduates are highly sought enough, that puts us in the favorable position of having more leads than students to pursue them. Most folks would prefer to begin with a couple of years far from Illinois that requires a fair amount of field work and travel. This is not universal. Some folks prefer to stay in Illinois and work from a desk or lab. About half of our graduates go on to graduate school for further specialization when they finish up here.

Peter Clift

Professor

Louisiana State University

Department of Geology and Geophysics

Website
|
LinkedIn

What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Environmental Geologist job market given the pandemic?

Peter Clift: A significant reduction in opportunities within oil and gas.

What's a good job out of college for Environmental Geologists?

Peter Clift: Over the coming years I could see that engineering geology including coastal engineering and river management may become more important to geoscience graduates with an increasing interest in carbon capture rather than in the traditional oil industry. Environmental geology is likely to remain strong and increasing field as well.

What technical skills for an Environmental Geologist stand out to employers?

Peter Clift: I think that having a broad-based education may be more important so that you can be more adaptable to the various different opportunities. Less specialized broad-based geological education is likely to increase your employability across a wide range of alternative careers. I still think that higher degrees such as Masters or PhD may be useful in sharing your usefulness to a potential employer with advances in environmental consulting, mining geology or in the overlap between engineering and geology. I think anyone planning a career in the geosciences probably needs to be thinking at least about taking a Masters degree.

Richard Tollo Ph.D.

Professor of Geology

George Washington University

Geological Sciences Program

Website

Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Environmental Geologists?

Richard Tollo Ph.D.: Yes, very much. Courses that normally involve field studies and work with specimens of rocks and minerals, all staples of standard geology curriculum, have been curtailed, limited to online-only, or cancelled. Graduates will not have the normal background upon gradation.

What technical skills for an Environmental Geologist stand out to employers?

Richard Tollo Ph.D.: For geology, scientific reasoning, problem solving, and the ability to communicate are highly desired by employers.

What's a day at work look like for an Environmental Geologist?

Richard Tollo Ph.D.: Not much different except for social distancing, as necessary.

Environmental Geologist Jobs

Environmental Geologist Related Links

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  • Environmental Analyst
  • Environmental Consultant
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  • Environmental Scientist Lead
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Environmental Geologist Related Careers

  • Associate Environmental Scientist
  • Environmental Analyst
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Environmental Programs Specialist
  • Environmental Remediation Specialist
  • Environmental Resource Specialist
  • Environmental Scientist
  • Environmental Scientist Lead
  • Environmental Scientist/Geologist
  • Environmental Service Technician
  • Environmental Specialist
  • Environmental Technician
  • Field Scientist
  • Geologist
  • Natural Resource Specialist

Environmental Geologist Related Jobs

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What Similar Roles Do

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  • What an Environmental Technician Does
  • What a Field Scientist Does
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  • Zippia Careers
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Updated November 2, 2021
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