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The differences between geologists 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 geologist, becoming a geological engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a geologist has an average salary of $111,878, which is higher than the $81,506 average annual salary of a geological engineer.
The top three skills for a geologist include oversight, OSHA and data collection. The most important skills for a geological engineer are geotechnical, autocad, and technical reports.
| Geologist | Geological Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $111,878 | $81,506 |
| Hourly rate | $53.79 | $39.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 869 | 5,971 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
Geologists and geological engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geologist | Geological Engineer | |
| Average salary | $111,878 | $81,506 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $196,000 | Between $65,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | El Paso, TX | Lansing, MI |
| Highest paying state | Texas | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | TOPS Well Services |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a geologist and a geological engineer in terms of educational background:
| Geologist | Geological Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Geology | Geological Engineering |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Colorado School of Mines |
Here are the differences between geologists' and geological engineers' demographics:
| Geologist | Geological Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% |
| 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, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 20.2% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |