20+ Geoscience Careers & How Much Geoscientists Make $ (Why YOU Should Study Geology!) | GEO GIRL 

Hey guys! I know many of you fought hard for Bedding Plane Structures this week, but Geo Careers won so here it is!! Hope you enjoy ;D Let me know in the comments which of these careers/fields you hope to join or are already part of! I am so curious to hear what kind of work you all do!

On the plus side to having a smaller geo community, the geologists are much more passionate. People who chose geology because that was their passion, unlike many students who default to engineering or chemistry because it's the popular thing to do and can give you a stable career. I've found that geologists are a special breed of scientists. You can usually pick them out of a crowd because they're talking about rocks or they're dressed in hiking shoes, field pants, and a dress shirt. Geology is in our blood and that makes us a specific species of scientist.

This move away from Geology departments has been happening for a while. When I graduated in the 90s, I was the LAST geologist to ever graduate from my college -- the department was rebranding to "Earth and Environmental Sciences". It was basically the same thing, but it was a subtle shift away from the department's focus, which felt like a sad thing to me. Also, the person who graduated a few months after me -- the college's first E&ES graduate -- made the joke that there's a disconformity between the two of us. Ha! Geology humor!

I have a bachelor's of science in geology and have been employed for almost year now at a large environmental consulting firm. My title is assistant Geologist. We mostly do environmental remediation projects, which can be through things like sampling groundwater, soil, and sometimes vapor sampling. Sometimes it is just oversight of drilling to install monitoring wells that monitor the groundwater or oversight of some other various construction project. Sometimes it can be very tedious and having to drive to far job sites that are 1, 2, or sometimes 3 hours away can be pretty bad especially when you have to wake up at like 5:30am to be at the job site at 7:30am which the usual start time. But sometimes you have to drive to a site that is two hours away, do a job that takes an hour and then drive back. So you really only did like one hour of work and the rest is driving but you get paid for the whole trip. So it has it's up and downs in terms of the work load. Some weeks you have no field work and sit at a computer all week. So it does kind of have a decent amount of variety. I started at $27 an hour and got a 50cent pay raise after about 6 months. The group of environmental scientists I work with are a good group, but I have talked to other people that have had bad experiences with there co-workers in similar jobs with different companies so the people you work with can definitely help. My biggest issue is that I don't really ever interact with rocks very much. My title should really be environmental scientist. I do miss the actual geology aspect of it, so I do not think I could or will stay in this field forever. Love the channel and the refreshers on concepts I learned in college a few years back. Thanks and continue spreading the geology knowledge.

Great video! You can also add GIS and Remote Sensing to your list! This is a great time to go into geoscience.

People are underestimating geology

I'm a Geologist, I live in Brazil, and here too, unfortunately the profession is undervalued, despite the enormous importance that the profession has in today's world. Despite this, I feel professionally fulfilled, because I love the profession, and the truths it provides me. I believe there is enormous ignorance regarding Geology.

Great video! I’m always amazed to learn about the different avenues people in the field take. This gives me inspiration to possibly dip my toes into a different branch. I’m currently a geologist with a government organization. My job functions fall under engineering geology. In my case, I have a BS but my internship experience helped me stand out. (Highly recommend taking advantage of summer internships and undergraduate research opportunities!) From talking to fellow geologists and engineers in my organization they seem to care more that you have your professional license than what your highest degree is as long as you have at least a BS. I We do have one or two PHDs where I work but they are on the same level (pay and project design wise) as other engineers and geologists with a MS. I will say the PHDs do have more opportunities for things like research. They also were more than willing to pay for me to go back and get my MS in a related field of study. Very glad I held out! 😅 You are so right though, the requirements vary greatly. I have a friend in seismology who basically had to have her PHD to perform the type of work she wanted. The good thing about this field is you have such a variety of options to choose from. 🌎💞

Thank you for this video! I’m about to start college this fall planning on majoring in earth science. I took two classes my senior year and liked them but it didn’t click until near the end how I actually want to keep studying this. But I’ve been going back and forth between potential majors for so long and reading stuff online about geology has felt pretty doom-and-gloom. I really needed a positive video like this!

I spent a lot of my career as an electrician working in oil refineries. I met quite a few geologists in refineries and they are paid well. Your channel is great Rachel.

Thank you for taking the time to make this video, I am on the fence about geology and mechanical engineering

I worked as a quality control Geophysicist in seismic exploration.. and as a laboratory geologist examining sedimentary rocks thin sections.. and I gotta say Geology is a very interesting and different type of career.. you can't get enough learning of it.. But unfortunately.. there's no interest once so ever in this department or in geologists here 😔

I love this video. I like to see how some of my thoughts are visualized or summarized in RU-vid videos already. hahah. It's really important topic.

I have a bachelor’s in Sociology and now I’m going to take community classes to transfer and get a Master’s in Geology in the near future!!! I’m so excited and it’s a bit overwhelming trying to find which master’s program. Your video and information inspires me and broadens my understanding of all the different subfield of geology I can go to! Thank you!!!

Hi, just wanted to say that this video is super helpful! I'm not planning on being a geologist myself sadly, but I *am* planning on being a writer, and this video has a lot of useful information to help me with a project I'm working on at the moment. Thank you so much!

Thats so much for making this video!!

im transferring this fall to get my bachelors in geosciences. So far I just have a strong fascination and no actual knowledge from any geoscience courses. I am hesitant on if I can really major in this, if i will do well, if i really want to, etc. My confidence when it comes to school is not super strong. Anyway, I decided to look up more about geoscience and I found this video. YOU ARE FREAKING AWESOME FOR MAKING THIS. Thank you so much. I am so pumped up right now and really excited to get into this field. It's awesome how you are spreading awareness and encouragement to people to study geosciences. Maybe we can find a way to connect because I'd love to talk more with you about all of this. Anyway thank you again, you are awesome

Hey, hey, I read those papers recreationally, and have been instrumental in learning about geology on my own! Your papers and work are not in vain! 😁 Thank you for making this video! I left the military to pursue this area of science bc I am enamored with the many different mountains and landscapes that exist in the Chihuahua Desert and Mojave Desert. I just earned my Associates and begin my first year at NMSU to continue my journey towards my degree(s) in the geologic sciences. I'm nervous and excited. Thank you for laying out these disciplines! Such an informative video!

It's been a LONG time since I've actually studied geophysics but it can definitely be broken down a few ways. Earthquake/global seismology is a big sub-branch that can be very important for natural hazards - especially if you live in the Cascadia zone, or similar areas, but also as a method for exploring deep earth structures beyond the reach of other methods. Exploration seismology is obviously big in the exploration geology segment for oil and gas especially, but also in some environmental fields. Then there are the electromagnetic methods (exploration geomagnetics, resistivity, GPR, magnetotellurics, etc) and then paleomag studies and a few other subspecialties like gravimetry, and the modeling and inversion side - optimizing geophysical models to discover potential earth models that might fit certain datasets. In computer science these problems are called 'optimization' problems, but geophysicists for some reason developed our own terminology of inverse modeling or geophysical inversion. And of course geophysics is a great foundation for going into planetary geology for other planets and moons in the Solar system and beyond. I ended up moving into GIS and remote sensing, but someone else already brought these fields up. Lots of jobs to be had there from ecology to infrastructure to traditional geoscience, even to national security.

When I was still working on the fringes, I was involved in a discussion on space science education in which another geologist suggested that lunar and planetary studies were separate disciplines. I jumped right in to point out that this view was antithetical to the philosophy of science, which, for me, means appreciating how all sciences interrelate. Also, if we considered nothing but the principle of uniformitarianism, then that principle must operate in space And time. Enjoying your videos.

Love your videos and how you explain things! Wish i found your channel back when i was doing my bachelor’s, could’ve helped me a lot in clearing a lot of the confusions i had!

As a geological engineering student, that was the closest thing to geology in my country, THANK YOU ♡

Great video! I have been playing this video/having my students watch it for their first assignment. I guess you might say I'm doing my part to "recruit."

You surely have a very promising career and a really bright future ahead of you, given how incredibly intelligent and gifted you are. I wish you nothing but the best my friend. Keep it up with outstanding work. 😊❤😉👍 And paleontology would easily be my preferred geoscience career. I may not have an official career yet, but I’ve already explored a couple of fossil sites. My most memorable exploration was observing the dinosaur tracks beneath Mt. Cristo Rey in El Paso Texas. Not only did I get to explore and walk the ancient land where prehistoric giants once roamed, but the research I did on this site also taught me a lot about what El Paso use to be like during the late Cretaceous. It’s truly fascinating.

One thing that concerned me after watching this video that virtually all geology careers require a phd. I hadn't been planning on getting more than a bachelors for whatever career I go in, and I would be the first in my family to go that far with their education (my dad has an associates and my mom dropped out of college). But I feel more confidence in understanding the time it takes to get a phd, as I had the impression that it takes like 10-12 years. Also hearing that there's a need for geologists right now gives me some security in getting a job after putting in the work. My other concern is networking. I'm from CA but I'm planning on moving to another state once I graduate, but it'll be hard to network to other states while I'm busy getting a degree. I also just don't really know how to start with networking. I'm hoping that I can ask one of my college's counselors about this and they could give some advice.

Thank you so much for this video:( I'm studying rn second year in geology and idkk alote are telling me to convert to other college bc ' geology doesn't have a future ' well , i find it really interesting and i have a passion for it (although It was never in my career wish list when i was a kid lol ) i love you channel sm!! I'm glad it exist

Glad I found your channel recently. I was a geology major, but I had to take a break from school (personal reasons). Enjoy watching your videos, really makes me wanna go back and finish that degree!

Thanks for the information. I am deciding what scientific discipline that I want to go into, and geology is interesting.

I have my BA in Political Science but I have always been interested in biology and geology, thinking about going back for a bachelor in earth sciences/geology and your videos are really helpful :)

Awesome! Subscribed! ❣️

I'm a retired physicist. My current research is physics and chemistry. My career spanned many fields, partially through my work with the U.S. Bureau of Mines. I love what you are doing. All science fields are having problems recruiting students. We must stay in contact with scientists from other nations. Only then may we prevail.

We can add medical geology to the list too.

My university was no help in finding a career in geosciences and i feel stuck. Hoping i can restart my search because i really do love it.

It was a lot knowledge full video, since my dream has been to be a geologist.. i hope i make it

Beautiful🥰....I'm a petroleum geologist, graduate student & considering sharing my knowledge here too..thanks for shinning your light on me👏

I love how enthusiastic you're.. your videos have helped me alot to prepare for certain exams in india and now I'm joining as junior researcher. Thanks alot friend.♥️

Hi, I have always been curious related to everything that had earth innit. This gave me a major closure on so many fields in geology. I have pursued geology since grade 11 & I just finished with my first year now & i'm prepping for second year with majoring in geology. If you could go in abit of more detail about petroleum geology since i've been thinking of it lately and how does the one get into it and whats the whole procedure and what kind of roles does it offer to an individual. Regardlessly thank you so much for such an insightful and informative video! And oh god i love the geology community ❤

A lot of geology classes are absorbed into other degrees in physical geoography and earth sciences. Some universities closed their departments 20 years ago. Now it looks like a growing field of need, but is not on the academic side of growth.

If I could go back I would have studied earth sciences! So interesting and you get the chance to be working outdoors.

Geology is so underrated

You deserve a million subscribers for sharing this amazing wealth of knowledge you are sharing and you are also beautiful looking I don't understand how you still have only around 5.47k😅 haha hope your channel grows so much

I go to mesa now for geology, I'm hoping state will accept me. I truly love learning about our earth.

Regarding the future of geology schools in the USA. I spent 27 years working as an environmental / economic geologist permitting Cu, Au, and Industrial mineral mines on public land for the US Department of Interior. Despite efforts I made working to provide critical minerals for our everyday society, most if not all people in the USA see mining as an evil empire. I am convinced that politics will continue to convey this concept and ultimately force the USA to depend on future production of minerals from 3rd world countries. Additionally, the USA will need to rely on our largest military in the world to facilitate their production and supply lines of minerals to maintain our current standard of living. Take Away, how does our society change the perception that mining is evil and must go away out of the USA?

Could you go more into paleontology? I recently completed my first geology and biology classes in college. I’m fascinated with the Earth, how it was made, and it’s processes. However, I’ve realized that it’s really paleontology that stimulates my brain, is so fascinating, and that I can really understand. Also, does geology include a lot of math? If so, what kind? Statistics? I am intelligent and capable, but I take so much more time to understand unless I have a tutor. I like this field solely for the scientific aspect.

Brilliant video! I manage a thin section lab at a Canadian University, which is another facility within "Earth Science" departments that are fast disappearing. It's a bit soul destroying watching all of this amazing talent retiring or pushed out, not only faculty but all the techs as well that support students and faculty.

Thank you for the informational video. I’m thinking of studying geology. Seems really interesting.

Hi! I was not expecting a decline in popularity of geology either! Only after I stumbled upon an article (think it was in the New Scientist) this Wednesday that reported a similar lack of interests, did I even begin to think about it. The article said that, besides people associating rocks with boredom, another major reason for this was people tend to equate geology with digging fossil fuels and thus tend to think geologists are complicit in causing global warming. It was frankly very surprising to learn about this trend! Growing up, I had always associated geology with stuff like crazy landscapes and field fun in crazy landscapes, but never destroying the Earth... I guess there are some who study geology just to work in oil, but there are many many more, me included, who are not. We have to work to eliminate this damaging assumption.

Thx for the video. Geology has been in the back of my mind to have a degree in and now I'm really interested. I'm just scared I'm not that smart. Lol ☹️ I'm going to check out more of your vids! What areas in the u.s. or world are geologists more needed or does it even matter? Thank you!

How does the work-life balance look in these fields? My limited understanding is that a BA would typically get you a job that would involve a lot of field work, but a Masters would allow you to move into the research and analysis side of things. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

I adore geology but i am not really built for camping. I dont mind being out and about during the day and the physical aspects, i just am not a camper. Im heavily considering changing from AYA Earth Sciences Education to geology so i can get my ed certs when i get my masters ans become an even better educator/geologist. I hope to delve into planetary geology and astrogeology.

I'm supprised with the huge boom in Paleontology that geoscience depts are shrinking.

I love Geology and love to study about earth more especially Earth's past😍

Ohhh nice one topic

Funny how the closing of geology departments will probably have the greatest impact on the energy sector!

Lesson ONE for geologists should be the explanation of the catastrophism theory. This theory is based on the findings of the French naturalist and paleontologist Georges Cuvier around the year 1800. During the excavations when making roads through France, he discovered the fossils from land and sea creatures in the same layer, strata. But also in the layer on top of that and the one below. So he concluded that the planet Earth is suffering from a recurring natural disaster where flooding must cover a large part of the land even on high places. But I assume that this theory is neglected because nobody could think of the possible cause of regular floods. Ancient books tell us that our planet Earth is suffering from a cycle of seven natural disasters. The only possible cause of such a cycle can be a celestial body that orbits our sun in an eccentric orbit. Than that body, planet, will be close to the sun for a short while and disappear in the universe for a long time. That celestial body is also mentioned and even depicted in many ways. The Aztec Sun stone is a warning for this event. Much more details about this cycle of natural disasters and many images can be found in an e-book. "Planet 9 = Nibiru". Search: invisible nibiru 9

Would you ever take a job in the gas & oil industry Rachel? I have a friend who graduated not too long ago with Masters in Geoscience. He’s running a fracking rig in Indiana. I ❤️ GEO GIRL

Hey Geo Girl, Do you suspect the closing down of Geology Departments at Colleges & Universities will have much effect on those, like myself, that are interested in a Degree in Geochemistry? If so, how Please?

Very interesting to listen to you. The situation all over the world is in fact the same, there are less and less teaching facilities and less and less students. At Gothenburg most students leave with their bachelors degree, about 5 of 7. The rest is mostly dropping out before they got their master. If you look at the grim reality, then you notice here in Sweden that there is almost no swedish student who is doing research and getting a phd. In Germany, in the state of Hessen we had 4 universities with a departement of geosciences. Today there is one left, in Frankfurt. Thats a pity. When i was a student about 30-40 years ago we had a very broad education, nearly involving all you mention in your video. Nowadays in Sweden it is much narrower. You really can´t work in every field of geology. You can get a degree as hydrogeologist and you can skip paleontology or petrology (for the swedish example) totally. For getting a job it doesn´t matter, the companies will recruit you from your ongoing lecture. The problem is, that you will not make a difference. A bachelor is ok, but it is not enough. My daily experience is, that most geologist i meet are not able to set the facts in their context. Yes, you do your everyday job you are paid for, but you do not make a difference. Making the difference is what we need in our societies, so i urge everyone studying geosciences to get their phd. I am working as an environmental geologist with contaminated sites and groundwater resources. This is a very broad field of work, in fact including geochemistry, biogeochemistry, ecotoxicology, hydrogeology, sedimentology....you name it. Last not least, risk assessement is a very, if not the most important part of my job. There is one comment about this topic a little longer down complaining that this job with contaminated sites is not very much about rock hard sience, i promise, it will be. There are plenty of people working in this area, not necessarily geologists (here in Sweden you can work at this field as a nurse, no joke). Most people do it like they read a cooking recipy, thinking in a box. Thats prone to fail. Contaminated sites are always, as per definition, out of the box. As geologist you have the responsibility to take the sites out of the box, regardless if your employer is a consultant company or a state agency where i work. That is not an easy task of course and you need good educational skills as well, because you work with people who do not understand geology at all. They have no clue about chemistry, about biodegradation about....time frame, the latter a topic we geologists understand very well. something more about making a difference. Sooner or later you come to a point where you have to decide what to do with your life (i do not mean you, Geo Girl, i think you made your decision already) (ok, you make this decision every day and may be revise the old decisions). You can do your job like we always did it, you may avoid problematic fields of work where you have to make decisions. May be you will retire without making decisions at all. Thats possible and i meet many people who are living this "no decision making". "We do so!" We do not know whether it works or not!" are phrases i hear very often. That is avoiding to decide. Of course it is a decision you make, not to take responsibility and not to decide, but then you are not a geologist. You have to make a difference, i demand it, and the society demands it too. You as a geologist have the tools for a proper decision, you do it all the time in your education, in your examinations. There is plenty of folks who leave the decisions for their life to someone else, regulators, neighbors, firends, you name it. All theses people do not make a difference. We geologist should do it, we have to do it. As i said, we have the tools, the skills to decide (at least i hope so), and we should use them. Back to contaminated sites. We have plenty of them, and they are threatening our most valuable resource, our ground water. The most important thing you have to think about is a proper risk assessement of the site you are working with. Sounds boring? It could be, yes. But it can also be very exciting to work with risk assessement. Mostly because very few people really understand how important it really is and how it is done. In Sweden we work with methods which really do not work. We did no proper evaluation of our methods (again, no joke ). Other countries didn´t evaluate their methods either, like Germany, or some other european countries. Nevertheless, some methods work in practice, others do not. This has in fact become my field of work. Sooner or later you become a specialist in your field of work, if you decide to become one. Then you will see, that our field of work, geosciences in general, is very important, we count, we are not alone. We have a great network and you will see, that we are all a family where you meet the same people again and again.

I just graduated with a bachelor of science in geology this May! Im looking forward to an exciting career

I've always been into marine biology but many people have discouraged me from pursuing it because of low salaries & few positions. I've never heard of oceanography...there's a way to study the ocean that can be economically viable? 🥰

personally i blame The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon didn't do us any favours.

Thanks for your video and highlighting the different fields of geosciences (earth sciences), but to be honest: I am also quite annoyed by people who diminish geosciences on petroleum and mining industry. It is much more but even if would not be more than that: what is the problem with that? Everything in our fucking, civilized world depends strongly of the products of the petroleum and mining industry. Everything!

Geologists will always be needed in some form. Mars for example. Landing on the moon was just an expensive field trip.

Great post but you missed the best one. Blockchain asset future production contracts. The easiest way to get rich in the world is geology.

I'd want to go into geology but everywhere I hear many people who go into it struggle really hard to find jobs after getting those degrees. I think geology is important but it just doesn't seem to have a lot of job opportunities from what I've heard.

I’m student who will be studying geology in the fall. I completed my basics at Lonestar community college and will be transferring to Sam Houston State university. Thanks God I received a full scholarship to obtain a B.S in Geology but it sad to hear that many departments in Geology are closing. Im sure it’s because many people don’t even know what Geologist do or what can they do. I know in Geology there is tons of opportunities and many fields to study. I hope to one day do what you are doing providing awareness of what Geology is and what you can do with it studying Geology. I have a question. So the college I will be attending this fall requires me to have a minor. I’ve focused my interest in 3 which are Environmental science, Geospatial Science (GIS), and Geography. I’m not sure which one to lead towards. Any suggestions?

I always wanted to be a geologist when i was a kid

Very nice video...and very nice your look..👌👌🤟👌

i like hiking, thanks to you i can understand the rock formations i see. + you are so beautiful

I'm thinking of doing a community college into university for Geology. What should be my starting degree in cc? General Studies? Then into uni go Geology?

Hi! I really like geology and planning to go for one of the field you showed @GeoGirl, I'm very thankful to you. I really wanna study in Canada or in the USA , but I have no idea, how to get a Scholarship, or what University is good... It will be very helpful of you guys, if you could recommend me any university...

your video is great but i had to watch it in .75 speed haha

Hi thanks for your videos. Excellent channel. Hooked. I am from Scotland, currently 34 and having serious thoughts on the rest of my life, seriously considering returning to education to obtain a degree in geology. I guess my main question is… have I left it too late? From a personal opinion? I guess by the time I was to complete the degree and be pursuing a career I would be at the later end of my 30’s / approaching 40. Do you think this would pose an issue starting out a career at that age? Thanks for any advice in advance. 👍🏼🙌🏻👍🏼😃

This may be my bias poking through, but I think Academia needs more out reach and recognition of Citizen science. To pay my bills I do caretaking, but im working towards goals I've spoken about before. With trade skills becoming a more popular alternative to university- I think getting those same people involved in active science work is going to become more important.

Hi Ma'am! I am currently a BS Geology student and before taking this major I was actually torn between geo and meteorology. I just wanna ask if it's possible for me to be in meteorology field along with my degree

What about planetary geologists?

Again I m the first 🥇🥇:-):-):-)

I do find it interesting that you leave out GEOGRAPHERS who are the first GEOscientists. ;-)

Hi, which European country would be the perfect choice for doing geology masters.

Hey what worries me is that there won’t be enough job opportunities for a bachelors degrees with Geology. Plus don’t you have to relocate to like middle of no where places for work and offshore rigs?

Geologists op in the chat

Nice vedio mam

what about earth geodynamic and tectonophysics..!!??

I am surprised you mentioned petroleum geologists.

I actually find that a lot of people think Geologists are people who study just rocks rather than genuine complex sciences. We study so much more! Very little know that we study natural resources as well.

A growing area of integrated science involving geoscience is exploring economic ways to recover rare earth, precious, and industrial minerals & materials by recycling of electronics and other machines. Economic recovery of those resources will involve geoscience, chemistry, biology and physics…..and finance!

Can someone from the middle east land such jobs? And how good is those careers outside of the US/western countries?

You missed Remote sensing and tectonics

I identify as a straight geologist

i actually want to go to school to be a geologist oil and gas is such a small avenue within it, im 45 so im a little old to be starting school but why not? ya know?

What percentage of geologists go beyond bachelor's degrees? It almost seems like there are no real jobs without Master's/PhD. I'm already older than many of my professors at the university and 2-4 more years has me getting over the hill.

Honestly would go to college for this if college isnt expensive. I just do self study for fun

Im working on getting my Bachelors in Geoscience. If i want to move into Paleontology is this a good path?

Omg. Only a masters? I'm so intimidated! I didn't even finish high school. Now I'm wondering how to get my kids to believe they can study at uni when I never could. They love rocks, even though they are only 8-12 age group. 💖

Considering getting a second bachelors in Geology!

I am studying for an Environmental Science Degree at a 4 year college. Can this degree pursue me to do geoscience?

What is your degree title? And what are some degrees that will lead you to a career in oceanography

Sorry. that you didn't include the field of Geomechanics but I can easily understand because the GeoSciences are so vast.

How about GIS varieties?

I have more specific questions relating to rocks, you have an email?