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The differences between geological specialists and geological engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a geological specialist, becoming a geological engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a geological engineer has an average salary of $81,506, which is higher than the $63,259 average annual salary of a geological specialist.
The top three skills for a geological specialist include GIS, technical support and meeting materials. The most important skills for a geological engineer are geotechnical, autocad, and technical reports.
| Geological Specialist | Geological Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $63,259 | $81,506 |
| Hourly rate | $30.41 | $39.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 19,801 | 5,971 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
Geological specialists and geological engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geological Specialist | Geological Engineer | |
| Average salary | $63,259 | $81,506 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $101,000 | Between $65,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Lansing, MI |
| Highest paying state | - | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | - | TOPS Well Services |
| Best paying industry | - | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a geological specialist and a geological engineer in terms of educational background:
| Geological Specialist | Geological Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Geology | Geological Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Colorado School of Mines |
Here are the differences between geological specialists' and geological engineers' demographics:
| Geological Specialist | Geological Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.3% Female, 23.7% | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 5.3% Asian, 2.7% White, 86.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 20.2% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |