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The differences between project geologists and assistant 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 project geologist and an assistant geologist. Additionally, an assistant geologist has an average salary of $109,783, which is higher than the $94,932 average annual salary of a project geologist.
The top three skills for a project geologist include OSHA, data collection and technical reports. The most important skills for an assistant geologist are site assessments, geotechnical, and GIS.
| Project Geologist | Assistant Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $94,932 | $109,783 |
| Hourly rate | $45.64 | $52.78 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 6,805 | 702 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
An assistant geologist performs various support tasks that focus on the studies of earth materials and processes. They typically function as a member of a research team where they are in charge of gathering and analyzing samples such as soil and groundwater, generating maps and guidelines, interpreting data, drawing conclusions and recommendations, and preparing plans and written reports. Moreover, when it comes to employment, an assistant geologist works alongside an experienced geologist at government agencies, research facilities, and private companies.
Project geologists and assistant geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Geologist | Assistant Geologist | |
| Average salary | $94,932 | $109,783 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $156,000 | Between $68,000 And $176,000 |
| Highest paying City | El Paso, TX | - |
| Highest paying state | Texas | - |
| Best paying company | Clean Harbors | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a project geologist and an assistant geologist in terms of educational background:
| Project Geologist | Assistant Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| 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 project geologists' and assistant geologists' demographics:
| Project Geologist | Assistant Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% Asian, 5.5% White, 82.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |