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What is a senior geologist and how to become one
Geologists specialize in studying rocks, mineral samples, and natural deposits in the earth. They may also develop plans and make recommendations based on their findings. There are various specialties in geology, like mineralogy and paleontology. Each of these focuses on different samples.
Mineralogists study rocks, minerals, and precious stones. Paleontologists are more concerned with fossils and rock layers. The day-to-day responsibilities of a geologist also vary according to the workplace or industry.
Sometimes, geologists work in teams, usually at a university department or privately funded research projects. Most geology teams are led by senior geologists who oversee the entire operation. Senior geologists may also take on administrative responsibility.
To become a senior geologist, you'll need a bachelor's degree and an advanced degree in your specialty. You also need several years of experience as a geologist. Depending on the industry, it may also help to have a background in other fields like engineering.
What general advice would you give to a senior geologist?
Nelson Ham Ph.D.
Professor of Geology and Environmental Science, St. Norbert College
Avg. Salary $109,166
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.58%
Asian 5.42%
Black or African American 0.87%
Hispanic or Latino 6.28%
Unknown 4.68%
White 82.16%
Genderfemale 15.32%
male 84.68%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Senior geologist career paths
Key steps to become a senior geologist
Explore senior geologist education requirements
Start to develop specific senior geologist skills
Skills Percentages Project Management 8.81% Data Collection 8.58% GIS 7.59% Geotechnical 7.16% Autocad 4.74% Complete relevant senior geologist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior geologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior geologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior geologist resumes.Research senior geologist duties and responsibilities
- Manage the installation of geophones, tiltmeters, inclinometers, passive vent wells, gas caps, and ORWs.
- Provide technical GIS support to CRA staff including data acquisition, analysis, and presentation.
- Supervise excavations of contaminate materials, collect groundwater, potable water, and surface water samples, and perform soil-gas surveys.
- Lead coordinator and geologist for ComEd geotechnical and environmental sampling project to support infrastructure expansion.
Get senior geologist experience
Generally, it takes 6-12 months to become a senior geologist. The most common roles before becoming a senior geologist include geologist, exploration geologist team lead and project geologist.Prepare your senior geologist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior geologist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior geologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable senior geologist resume templates
Build a professional senior geologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior geologist resume.
Apply for senior geologist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior geologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first senior geologist job
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Average senior geologist salary
The average senior geologist salary in the United States is $109,166 per year or $52 per hour. Senior geologist salaries range between $63,000 and $186,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do senior geologists rate their job?
Senior geologist reviews
Understanding the earth and finding solution to problems caused by humans.
Hard to find a job.
not much.
Inconsistent working schedule, have to fight for billable work against other geologists within my company, insanely long hours, travel to mostly unsafe areas.
Low paying job if you work for a small company
Updated January 8, 2025
