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The differences between 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 geologist and a consulting geologist. Additionally, a consulting geologist has an average salary of $112,160, which is higher than the $111,878 average annual salary of a geologist.
The top three skills for a geologist include oversight, OSHA and data collection. The most important skills for a consulting geologist are GIS, technical reports, and geotechnical.
| Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $111,878 | $112,160 |
| Hourly rate | $53.79 | $53.92 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 869 | 5,484 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
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.
Geologists and consulting geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Average salary | $111,878 | $112,160 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $196,000 | Between $65,000 And $191,000 |
| Highest paying City | El Paso, TX | - |
| Highest paying state | Texas | - |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | - |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a geologist and a consulting geologist in terms of educational background:
| Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | 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 geologists' and consulting geologists' demographics:
| Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% |
| 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, 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% |