Career Opportunities

What do Geologists do?

guide the understanding of risks and improving of resilience to natural hazards
help our communities and governments understand the impacts of climate change
help communities have a sustained supply of good-quality water
select safe locations for development & construction projects
make sure that soils and streams are safe for people & wildlife
help inform the sustainable use of natural resources
conduct fundamental research on the Earth & its history, processes & future

Types of careers vary, but most geologists typically perform some or all of the following in their jobs:

Plan and conduct field studies, sample collection, and rock/soil/sediment surveys
Analyze maps, aerial photographs, well logs, rock/soil/sediment cores and other data to describe the extent of geologic formations, resources, hazards and materials
Conduct laboratory tests on samples collected in the field
Produce maps and charts on geologic features, natural hazards, climate impacts, water resources, etc.
Prepare written scientific reports; review reports and research done by other scientists; present their findings to clients, colleagues, and other interested parties

A wide variety of employment opportunities are open to geologists, with a growing national and international workforce in most geology-related career paths. Many geologists are employed in private industry by firms involved in environmental services, engineering geology, and water resources. Other careers include information services, K-12 education, science communication, sustainable resource extraction & remediation, and non-profit/NGO outreach & advocacy. A number of geology graduates obtain employment with federal or state agencies involved with the environment, natural resources, sustainability, or energy, as well as municipal and regional planning departments. Careers involving technical skills typically demand a B.S. degree, and advanced degrees such as M.S. allow even broader opportunities using specialized knowledge.