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The differences between geoscientists and petroleum 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 geoscientist and a petroleum geologist. Additionally, a petroleum geologist has an average salary of $111,574, which is higher than the $110,629 average annual salary of a geoscientist.
The top three skills for a geoscientist include seismic data, oil gas and data collection. The most important skills for a petroleum geologist are log data, well-site, and GIS.
| Geoscientist | Petroleum Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $110,629 | $111,574 |
| Hourly rate | $53.19 | $53.64 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 302 | 1,291 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A geoscientist specializes in studying geosciences and performing research and analysis. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around crafting research plans, conducting field mapping and studies to examine geological structures, gathering samples, obtaining photographic evidence, and conducting different experiments and scientific studies. As a geoscientist, it is essential to maintain an extensive record of data, summarize results in reports and presentations, and collaborate with different scientists. They may publish their studies in various publications, utilize them for other projects and programs, or raise public awareness.
A Petroleum Geologist is responsible for the extraction and estimation of oil, gas, and other combustible resources. They estimate the depth, quality, and vastness of deposits using a wide range of sophisticated technologies.
Geoscientists and petroleum geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Geoscientist | Petroleum Geologist | |
| Average salary | $110,629 | $111,574 |
| Salary range | Between $79,000 And $154,000 | Between $70,000 And $176,000 |
| Highest paying City | Midland, TX | Houston, TX |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Texas |
| Best paying company | Shell | ConocoPhillips |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a geoscientist and a petroleum geologist in terms of educational background:
| Geoscientist | Petroleum Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| 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 geoscientists' and petroleum geologists' demographics:
| Geoscientist | Petroleum Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.0% Female, 24.0% | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% Asian, 5.7% White, 81.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 4.9% White, 82.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |