How to hire a geologist

How to hire a geologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step geologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a geologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new geologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a geologist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the geologist you need to hire. Certain geologist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A geologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, geologists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of geologists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Geologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Geologist	Geoscientists study the physical aspects of the Earth, such as its composition, structure, and processes, to learn about its past, present, and future.	$30-94
   Geology Internship	In a geology internship, an intern has the opportunity to gain insights and practical experience while performing various support tasks under the directives and supervision of a geologist or manager. Their duties typically include working on different projects, conducting research, doing fieldwork, gathering and analyzing samples, collecting photographs or videos as evidence, completing surveys and assessments, and producing reports, submitting them according to protocols and standards... Show more	$38-70
   Geophysicist	A Geophysicist studies the Earth's physical properties. They also examine the effects of the atmosphere on radio and satellite communications.	$37-67

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Oversight
   • OSHA
   • Data Collection
   • GIS
   • Surface Water
   • Data Analysis
   • Water Samples
   • Technical Reports
   • Geotechnical
   • Technical Support
   • Sample Collection
   • PowerPoint
   • Autocad
   • Remediation Projects

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage leach pad ore delivery to maximize and predict Au recovery.
   • Establish an LLC and learned the fundamentals of running and managing a small business.
   • Manage the installation of geophones, tiltmeters, inclinometers, passive vent wells, gas caps, and ORWs.
   • Manage task training and laboratory/field safety according to MSHA standards.
   • Manage, design and supervise geologic investigation drilling plans relate to environmental, geotechnical and mining projects.
   • Assist with geochemical and geophysical programs evaluating precious- and base-metal mineral exploration projects in Colorado, Arizona, and Wisconsin.

   More geologist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your geologist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A geologist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, geologists' average salary in indiana is 56% less than in texas.
   • Seniority. Entry-level geologists 68% less than senior-level geologists.
   • Certifications. A geologist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a geologist's salary.

   Average geologist salary

   $111,878yearly

   $53.79 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level geologist salary

   $63,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average geologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Texas	$135,938	$65
   2	Oklahoma	$115,223	$55
   3	California	$100,933	$49
   4	Washington	$93,913	$45
   5	Louisiana	$93,165	$45
   6	Alaska	$90,721	$44
   7	New Jersey	$88,165	$42
   8	Maryland	$88,045	$42
   9	District of Columbia	$87,705	$42
   10	Colorado	$87,001	$42
   11	Arizona	$86,134	$41
   12	Michigan	$85,335	$41
   13	Nevada	$83,771	$40
   14	Florida	$82,083	$39
   15	New Mexico	$81,764	$39
   16	Utah	$79,024	$38
   17	Wyoming	$76,663	$37
   18	Missouri	$64,839	$31
   19	North Carolina	$64,456	$31
   20	Iowa	$64,006	$31

   Average geologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Devon Energy	$157,003	$75.48
   2	ConocoPhillips	$156,408	$75.20
   3	California Resources	$155,390	$74.71
   4	Shell Trading	$154,049	$74.06
   5	BP America Inc	$147,304	$70.82
   6	Apache	$147,133	$70.74
   7	Swift Energy Company	$145,020	$69.72
   8	Intrepid Potash	$144,967	$69.70
   9	Surge Energy America	$144,262	$69.36
   10	Exxon Mobil	$144,103	$69.28
   11	Chevron	$142,648	$68.58
   12	Occidental Petroleum	$142,527	$68.52
   13	Marathon Oil	$142,078	$68.31
   14	Battelle	$141,744	$68.15
   15	SM Energy	$141,216	$67.89
   16	EOG Resources	$140,568	$67.58	4
   17	Pioneer Natural Resources	$140,273	$67.44
   18	Hilcorp Energy	$139,818	$67.22	1
   19	Lumina Geophysical	$139,581	$67.11
   20	Ryder Scott Co	$139,135	$66.89

4. Writing a geologist job description

   A good geologist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a geologist job description:

   Geologist job description example

   Our People & Places Solutions business - reinforces our drive to improve the lives of people everywhere and epitomizes the "why" of what we do - the tremendous positive impact and value our solutions bring to our communities and society as a whole. From facilities delivering life-saving therapies and ensuring clean water to enabling the connection of people through all modes of transportation and providing access to technology - we're integrating a multitude of these solution elements to build the smart environments of tomorrow.
   
   Start your Jacobs career with a company that inspires and empowers you to deliver your best work so you can evolve, grow and succeed - today and into tomorrow.
   Your Impact:
   
   When it comes to environmental consulting, we're focused on cleaning up our communities today to improve tomorrow. We're looking for an Entry-Level Environmental Engineer or Geologist in the Redding, California Jacobs office to work on site characterization and remediation projects for government and private-sector clients. You'll gain valuable field experience with environmental sampling techniques and subcontractor oversight. You'll balance your field work with some time spent in the office working on data interpretation and visualization, quantitative modeling, report writing and coordinating field work.
   
   You'll have the opportunity to help create a more sustainable world by ensuring environmental compliance, environmental management, and health and safety while working on diverse projects. In this role, you'll work with experienced engineers and project managers who will help you start your environmental consulting career at a place like no other, a company that is invested in you and the environment around us.
   
   Kick off your environmental career at Jacobs - where we'll empower you to learn and grow as you deliver environmental projects that make our world better
   
   Here's What You'll Need:
   
   * Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (Environmental, Civil, or Chemical Engineering or preferred), Geology, or Environmental Science or closely related field
   * 40-hr HAZWOPER certification or the ability to attain this certification
   * Ability to travel for field projects up to 50-90% of the time
   * Remediation experience
   
   Ideally, You'll Also Have:
   
   * Strong attention to detail and excellent verbal and written communication skills
   * Ability to work both independently with minimal supervision and in a team environment
   * Experience with Microsoft Office software
   
   Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.
   
   At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $13 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find geologists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your geologist job on Zippia to find and recruit geologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit geologists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new geologist

   Once you've decided on a perfect geologist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new geologist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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