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The differences between staff geologists and exploration 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 staff geologist and an exploration geologist. Additionally, an exploration geologist has an average salary of $112,376, which is higher than the $108,966 average annual salary of a staff geologist.
The top three skills for a staff geologist include data collection, OSHA and HAZWOPER. The most important skills for an exploration geologist are geochemical, arcgis, and drill holes.
| Staff Geologist | Exploration Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $108,966 | $112,376 |
| Hourly rate | $52.39 | $54.03 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 68,971 | 667 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Staff Geologist performs field explorations, analyzes environmental conditionals, and generates reports for the assigned project. They can work for government environmental agencies, mining companies, engineering firms, or city planning offices.
An exploration geologist is an expert in finding mineral deposits that can be extracted using geophysical techniques, such as electromagnetic, gravitational, or seismic methods. They collect samples from test sites to distinguish the depth, quantity, quantity, and type of mineral. They study the earth's structure to predict the locations of natural resources and to plan programs for exploration. They must record all collected data and samples for further analysis and study. They must ensure the accuracy of their forecasts since mistakes in this position are very costly.
Staff geologists and exploration geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Geologist | Exploration Geologist | |
| Average salary | $108,966 | $112,376 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $189,000 | Between $65,000 And $191,000 |
| Highest paying City | Corpus Christi, TX | Houston, TX |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Texas |
| Best paying company | ConocoPhillips | Continental Resources |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a staff geologist and an exploration geologist in terms of educational background:
| Staff Geologist | Exploration Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| 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 staff geologists' and exploration geologists' demographics:
| Staff Geologist | Exploration Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5% | Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 3.6% White, 83.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 82.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |