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What is an exploration geologist and how to become one
Exploration geologists are responsible for finding minable occurrences of metallic ores, gems, pigments, industrial minerals, construction materials, or other minable commodities. They investigate the structure and evolution of the earth and its natural resources, plan programmes for the exploration of sites for oil, gas, water, minerals, etc. They also survey and map geologically promising sites while analyzing geological data using specialist computer applications.
Exploration geologists earn an average salary of $106,000 annually or $51 per hour. They are highly analytical professionals who balance direct fieldwork and site visits with computer-aided analysis and data modelling. They identify and test sites and ensure that minerals can be extracted without causing surface-level damage. They also perform extensive testing of soil and rock samples collected from the site while using geological records and existing data to support their findings and hypotheses.
Exploration geologists typically hold a bachelor's degree in geology or a related field. They are expected to have significant experience with geology fieldwork that may be related to identifying underground mineral deposits.
What general advice would you give to an exploration geologist?
Nelson Ham Ph.D.
Professor of Geology and Environmental Science, St. Norbert College
Avg. Salary $112,376
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%
Asian 4.54%
Black or African American 0.92%
Hispanic or Latino 6.42%
Unknown 4.71%
White 82.82%
Genderfemale 17.80%
male 82.20%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Exploration geologist career paths
Key steps to become an exploration geologist
Explore exploration geologist education requirements
Start to develop specific exploration geologist skills
Skills Percentages Geochemical 9.33% ArcGIS 9.00% Drill Holes 6.88% GIS 6.77% RC 5.75% Complete relevant exploration geologist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New exploration geologists 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 exploration geologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real exploration geologist resumes.Research exploration geologist duties and responsibilities
- Develop and/or lead short courses and seminars on eolian sedimentology, the characterization of heterogeneous reservoirs and reservoir management.
- Create and update maps using ESRI ArcGIS software and maintain a GIS database.
- Mentore numerous junior staff in GIS, data management, spatial analysis, and presenting papers.
- Conduct in-depth studies of the sedimentology, stratigraphy, and petrography of sandstone reservoirs base on core analysis.
Get exploration geologist experience
Generally, it takes 6-12 months to become an exploration geologist. The most common roles before becoming an exploration geologist include geologist, internship team lead and project geologist.Prepare your exploration geologist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your exploration geologist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an exploration geologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable exploration geologist resume templates
Build a professional exploration geologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your exploration geologist resume.
Apply for exploration geologist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an exploration geologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first exploration geologist job
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Average exploration geologist salary
The average exploration geologist salary in the United States is $112,376 per year or $54 per hour. Exploration geologist salaries range between $65,000 and $191,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do exploration geologists rate their job?
Exploration geologist reviews
Understanding the earth and finding solution to problems caused by humans.
Hard to find a job.
not much.
Inconsistent working schedule, have to fight for billable work against other geologists within my company, insanely long hours, travel to mostly unsafe areas.
Updated January 8, 2025
