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The differences between geologists and exploration 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 an exploration geologist. Additionally, an exploration geologist has an average salary of $112,376, 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 an exploration geologist are geochemical, arcgis, and drill holes.
| Geologist | Exploration Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $111,878 | $112,376 |
| Hourly rate | $53.79 | $54.03 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 869 | 667 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| 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.
An exploration geologist is an expert in finding mineral deposits that can be extracted using geophysical techniques, such as electromagnetic, gravitational, or seismic methods. They collect samples from test sites to distinguish the depth, quantity, quantity, and type of mineral. They study the earth's structure to predict the locations of natural resources and to plan programs for exploration. They must record all collected data and samples for further analysis and study. They must ensure the accuracy of their forecasts since mistakes in this position are very costly.
Geologists and exploration geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geologist | Exploration Geologist | |
| Average salary | $111,878 | $112,376 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $196,000 | Between $65,000 And $191,000 |
| Highest paying City | El Paso, TX | Houston, TX |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Texas |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | Continental Resources |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a geologist and an exploration geologist in terms of educational background:
| Geologist | Exploration Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| 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 exploration geologists' demographics:
| Geologist | Exploration Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% | Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8% |
| 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, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 82.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |