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The differences between mud loggers and geologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a mud logger, becoming a geologist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a geologist has an average salary of $111,878, which is higher than the $99,535 average annual salary of a mud logger.
The top three skills for a mud logger include enhance safety, mechanical equipment and data acquisition systems. The most important skills for a geologist are oversight, OSHA, and data collection.
| Mud Logger | Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $99,535 | $111,878 |
| Hourly rate | $47.85 | $53.79 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 741 | 869 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 38 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A mudlogger works at oil and gas companies where they are primarily in charge of supervising drilling operations to gather data from various procedures. They are responsible for maintaining accurate records of drilling activities and other processes, writing down descriptions, and producing detailed reports that companies can utilize when making decisions. Moreover, in some companies, a mudlogger may also take photos and videos, gather and analyze samples through various laboratory procedures, conduct inspections, perform risk assessments, coordinate with geologists, and implement safety policies and standards to maintain a safe and efficient workflow.
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.
Mud loggers and geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mud Logger | Geologist | |
| Average salary | $99,535 | $111,878 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $133,000 | Between $63,000 And $196,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | El Paso, TX |
| Highest paying state | - | Texas |
| Best paying company | - | Devon Energy |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a mud logger and a geologist in terms of educational background:
| Mud Logger | Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Geology | Geology |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between mud loggers' and geologists' demographics:
| Mud Logger | Geologist | |
| Average age | 38 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.4% Female, 13.6% | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 4% |