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The differences between staff 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 staff geologist and a project geologist. Additionally, a staff geologist has an average salary of $108,966, which is higher than the $94,932 average annual salary of a project geologist.
The top three skills for a staff geologist include data collection, OSHA and HAZWOPER. The most important skills for a project geologist are OSHA, data collection, and technical reports.
| Staff Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Yearly salary | $108,966 | $94,932 |
| Hourly rate | $52.39 | $45.64 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 68,971 | 6,805 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| 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.
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.
Staff geologists and project geologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Average salary | $108,966 | $94,932 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $189,000 | Between $57,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | Corpus Christi, TX | El Paso, TX |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Texas |
| Best paying company | ConocoPhillips | Clean Harbors |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a staff geologist and a project geologist in terms of educational background:
| Staff Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | 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 staff geologists' and project geologists' demographics:
| Staff Geologist | Project Geologist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| 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, 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% |