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The differences between geologists and archaeologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a geologist, becoming an archaeologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a geologist has an average salary of $111,878, which is higher than the $50,314 average annual salary of an archaeologist.
The top three skills for a geologist include oversight, OSHA and data collection. The most important skills for an archaeologist are excavations, GPS, and GIS.
| Geologist | Archaeologist | |
| Yearly salary | $111,878 | $50,314 |
| Hourly rate | $53.79 | $24.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 869 | 4,260 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A Geologist studies the composition, structure, and history of the earth's crust. They may work for private industries, the federal government, colleges and universities, or museums.
An Archaeologist is focused on studying past human activity. They record, interpret, and preserve archaeological remains for future generations.
Geologists and archaeologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geologist | Archaeologist | |
| Average salary | $111,878 | $50,314 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $196,000 | Between $33,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | El Paso, TX | Chelmsford, MA |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | Arcadis |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a geologist and an archaeologist in terms of educational background:
| Geologist | Archaeologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Geology | Anthropology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between geologists' and archaeologists' demographics:
| Geologist | Archaeologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% | Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 4.9% White, 81.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 6.7% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 11% |