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The differences between project geologists and consulting 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 a consulting geologist. Additionally, a consulting geologist has an average salary of $112,160, 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 a consulting geologist are GIS, technical reports, and geotechnical.
| Project Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $94,932 | $112,160 |
| Hourly rate | $45.64 | $53.92 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 6,805 | 5,484 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
Geology Consultants are experts in their field who assist with different geology-related projects and research. They are generally specialized in petroleum, environmental, or hydrology geology.
Project geologists and consulting geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Average salary | $94,932 | $112,160 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $156,000 | Between $65,000 And $191,000 |
| 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 a consulting geologist in terms of educational background:
| Project Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 consulting geologists' demographics:
| Project Geologist | Consulting Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% |
| 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, 1.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Asian, 3.7% White, 82.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |