How hard is it to become a geologist?

Becoming a geologist can be challenging as it requires a substantial amount of education and practical experience. Becoming a geologist typically involves obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Geology or a related field, and this generally takes four years to complete. Students should be prepared to study a variety of science subjects, including chemistry, physics, and biology, as well as specific courses in geology.

Do geologists get paid well?

Yes, some geologists get paid well. A person's pay in geology roles can range from $30,000 to $120,000 in a year. The pay a person makes as a geologist depends on various factors. These include education, experience, industry, company, and location. While some of these factors have more influence than others, the five work together to determine a person's salary.

How many years does it take to become a geologist?

It takes three to five years of field experience to become a geologist. To become a geologist, a person needs their bachelor's degree, field experience, and a license depending on the state they work in.

Is being a geologist hard?

No, working as a geologist is not hard. However, this field can be challenging to break into as a new graduate without extensive work experience. This is because the job market tends to be cyclical, and networking is essential.

What companies hire geologists?

Companies in education, government, and mining and quarrying hire geologists. Typically, geologists hold at least a bachelor's degree, although there might be careers where they need more education. Those who are interested in working in research and education can choose to pursue a doctorate in geology and teach at universities.

How To Become A Geologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a geologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Nelson Ham Ph.D.,

Richard Tollo Ph.D.

A geologist is a trained professional who studies the composition, structure, and history of the earth in order to provide an understanding of the history of the earth and to predict future occurrences. They study rocks, minerals, and the sequences of earth processes, then use their knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and geology to explain certain phenomena.

Their job is also useful in locating minerals, petroleum deposits, and underground water resources. A geologist may decide to focus on a specific field within geology. Popular fields include marine geology, environmental geology, economic geology, petroleum geology, and engineering geology.

Employment opportunities for geologists can be found in the oil and gas industry, civil engineering, construction companies, government agencies and the underground water industry. The job of a geologist may involve a lot of travel because they do a lot of site visits. Therefore, they have flexible work schedules and may work late evenings and even during the weekends.

What general advice would you give to a geologist?

Nelson Ham Ph.D.

Professor of Geology and Environmental Science, St. Norbert College

Consider taking on short term job opportunities for awhile that expand your experience and skill set-internships, research opportunities, and volunteer positions

ScoreGeologistUS Average

Salary

7.9

Avg. Salary $111,878

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.5

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.61%

Asian 4.94%

Black or African American 1.04%

Hispanic or Latino 6.72%

Unknown 4.77%

White 81.93%

Gender

female 21.34%

male 78.66%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a geologist

Explore geologist education requirements

Most common geologist degrees

Bachelor's

79.3 %

Master's

14.3 %

Associate

3.5 %

Start to develop specific geologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Oversight	23.68%
OSHA	7.10%
Data Collection	5.58%
GIS	5.36%
Surface Water	3.95%

Complete relevant geologist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 a geologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real geologist resumes.

Research geologist duties and responsibilities

Manage leach pad ore delivery to maximize and predict Au recovery.
Establish an LLC and learned the fundamentals of running and managing a small business.
Manage the installation of geophones, tiltmeters, inclinometers, passive vent wells, gas caps, and ORWs.
Manage task training and laboratory/field safety according to MSHA standards.

Prepare your geologist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 a 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 geologist resume templates

Build a professional 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 geologist resume.

Apply for geologist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a 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 do geologists rate their job?

3.5/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Geologist reviews

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Understanding the earth and finding solution to problems caused by humans.

Cons

Hard to find a job.

2.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

not much.

Cons

Inconsistent working schedule, have to fight for billable work against other geologists within my company, insanely long hours, travel to mostly unsafe areas.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

Combination of field and office work, be able to complete the project from start to end

Cons

Low paying job if you work for a small company

What is a geologist and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a geologist?

Geologist career paths

Key steps to become a geologist

Explore geologist education requirements

Most common geologist degrees

Start to develop specific geologist skills

Complete relevant geologist training and internships

Research geologist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your geologist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable geologist resume templates

Apply for geologist jobs

How did you land your first geologist job

Average geologist salary

How do geologists rate their job?

Geologist reviews

Geologist FAQs

How hard is it to become a geologist?

Do geologists get paid well?

How many years does it take to become a geologist?

Is being a geologist hard?

What companies hire geologists?

Search for geologist jobs

Geologist jobs by state