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The differences between geologists and project 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 project geologist. Additionally, a geologist has an average salary of $111,878, which is higher than the $94,932 average annual salary of a project geologist.
The top three skills for a geologist include oversight, OSHA and data collection. The most important skills for a project geologist are OSHA, data collection, and technical reports.
| Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $111,878 | $94,932 |
| Hourly rate | $53.79 | $45.64 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 869 | 6,805 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| 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.
The primary duties of a Project Geologist are to study composition, structure, history, and other aspects of the Earth's crust through the examination of rocks, minerals, and fossil remains. They also collaborate with specialists and technicians about aspects of their work.
Geologists and project geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Average salary | $111,878 | $94,932 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $196,000 | Between $57,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | El Paso, TX | El Paso, TX |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Texas |
| Best paying company | Devon Energy | Clean Harbors |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a geologist and a project geologist in terms of educational background:
| Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| 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 project geologists' demographics:
| Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| 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, 1.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 3.9% White, 83.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |