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Geological specialist vs geological engineer

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 vs geological engineer overview

Geological SpecialistGeological Engineer
Yearly salary$63,259$81,506
Hourly rate$30.41$39.19
Growth rate5%2%
Number of jobs19,8015,971
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4543
Years of experience122

Geological specialist vs geological engineer salary

Geological specialists and geological engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Geological SpecialistGeological Engineer
Average salary$63,259$81,506
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $101,000Between $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

Differences between geological specialist and geological engineer education

There are a few differences between a geological specialist and a geological engineer in terms of educational background:

Geological SpecialistGeological Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorGeologyGeological Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborColorado School of Mines

Geological specialist vs geological engineer demographics

Here are the differences between geological specialists' and geological engineers' demographics:

Geological SpecialistGeological Engineer
Average age4543
Gender ratioMale, 76.3% Female, 23.7%Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage4%5%

Differences between geological specialist and geological engineer duties and responsibilities

Geological specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the sites NPDES permit program to ensure compliance with DMR reporting and storm water sampling.
  • Provide data analysis and mapping services using state-of-the-art GIS computer systems.
  • Train employees on GIS use.
  • Archive all data associate with SMT, and Geographix.
  • Conduct research using online federal regulations, review Medicare and Medicaid policy and guidelines to complete an accurate and well-support decision.
  • Maintain department SharePoint site including site administration.

Geological engineer example responsibilities.

  • Conduct time-and-motion studies and performance of truck-and-shovel analysis and efficiently allocate trucks to shovels and attain optimum productivity.
  • Identify ways to maximize data gather from logging and testing, conduct onsite petrophysics analysis and QC.
  • Help to prepare mechanics, geotechnical and geological reports.
  • Analyze field and laboratory test data and prepare geotechnical reports.
  • Operate and troubleshoot vacuum deposition machinery used in the development of anodes vital to the design of novel lithium-sulfur battery technology.
  • Involve consistently infield operation and provide high safety and HSE standards.
  • Show more

Geological specialist vs geological engineer skills

Common geological specialist skills
  • GIS, 41%
  • Technical Support, 30%
  • Meeting Materials, 29%
Common geological engineer skills
  • Geotechnical, 30%
  • Autocad, 14%
  • Technical Reports, 11%
  • Engineering Design, 10%
  • Slope Stability, 9%
  • Data Interpretation, 6%

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