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The differences between senior geologists and project 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 senior geologist and a project geologist. Additionally, a senior geologist has an average salary of $109,166, which is higher than the $94,932 average annual salary of a project geologist.
The top three skills for a senior geologist include project management, data collection and GIS. The most important skills for a project geologist are OSHA, data collection, and technical reports.
| Senior Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $109,166 | $94,932 |
| Hourly rate | $52.48 | $45.64 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 811 | 6,805 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Senior Geologist manages all geological activities and research, and provides guidance to junior team members. They assist geological supervisors to prepare an annual and long-term plan for geological work.
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.
Senior geologists and project geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Average salary | $109,166 | $94,932 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $186,000 | Between $57,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | Corpus Christi, TX | El Paso, TX |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Texas |
| Best paying company | Statoil | Clean Harbors |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a senior geologist and a project geologist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| 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 senior geologists' and project geologists' demographics:
| Senior Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.7% Female, 15.3% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 82.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |