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The differences between field geologists and consulting 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 field geologist and a consulting geologist. Additionally, a consulting geologist has an average salary of $112,160, which is higher than the $109,947 average annual salary of a field geologist.
The top three skills for a field geologist include data collection, geotechnical and well design. The most important skills for a consulting geologist are GIS, technical reports, and geotechnical.
| Field Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $109,947 | $112,160 |
| Hourly rate | $52.86 | $53.92 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 45,359 | 5,484 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Field Geologist is specialized in a certain field of geology, such as minerology, paleontology, or geotechnology. They study the earth's crust to obtain an accurate picture of its structure, history, and composition.
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.
Field geologists and consulting geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Average salary | $109,947 | $112,160 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $185,000 | Between $65,000 And $191,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a field geologist and a consulting geologist in terms of educational background:
| Field Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Geology | Geology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between field geologists' and consulting geologists' demographics:
| Field Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.2% Female, 18.8% | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% Asian, 5.5% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |