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The differences between geophysicists and staff 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 geophysicist and a staff geologist. Additionally, a staff geologist has an average salary of $108,966, which is higher than the $105,067 average annual salary of a geophysicist.
The top three skills for a geophysicist include data collection, geophysical data and C++. The most important skills for a staff geologist are data collection, OSHA, and HAZWOPER.
| Geophysicist | Staff Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $105,067 | $108,966 |
| Hourly rate | $50.51 | $52.39 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 287 | 68,971 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 84% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Geophysicist studies the Earth's physical properties. They also examine the effects of the atmosphere on radio and satellite communications.
A Staff Geologist performs field explorations, analyzes environmental conditionals, and generates reports for the assigned project. They can work for government environmental agencies, mining companies, engineering firms, or city planning offices.
Geophysicists and staff geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geophysicist | Staff Geologist | |
| Average salary | $105,067 | $108,966 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $141,000 | Between $62,000 And $189,000 |
| Highest paying City | Midland, TX | Corpus Christi, TX |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Texas |
| Best paying company | Shell | ConocoPhillips |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a geophysicist and a staff geologist in terms of educational background:
| Geophysicist | Staff Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 84% |
| 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 geophysicists' and staff geologists' demographics:
| Geophysicist | Staff Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.6% Female, 19.4% | Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 82.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 1.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 3.6% White, 83.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |