Find Grad Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in California

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in California

Thinking about a career as a Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in California? Below are the key facts. Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs. Excludes “Petroleum Engineers” (17-2171).

What do Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Make in California?

The mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers working in California, the median annual wage is $142,520 per year (or about $68.52/hour).Pay can range from $81,510 at the 10th percentile to $172,480 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $81,510 $39.19
25th percentile $103,460 $49.74
Median (50th) $142,520 $68.52
75th percentile $166,490 $80.04
90th percentile $172,480 $82.92
Salary ranges for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in California

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California compared to the national average — is 0.99.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers earn a median of $138,303 per year ($66.49/hour), higher than the California median.

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers earnings in California vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 244,231 mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers across the United States. In California alone, approximately 780 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 150 mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers.

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers in California vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

Top California Metros for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

The metro areas below employ the most mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers in California.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 340 $142,520
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 200 $158,760
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 50 $104,530
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 50 $163,490

Top States for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Employment

View the states that employ the most mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers work.

State Number Employed
California 780
Colorado 730
Arizona 680
Nevada 430
Illinois 400
West Virginia 400
Alaska 350
Utah 220
New Mexico 210
Oregon 200
Texas 180
Montana 150
Wyoming 150
Virginia 130
Ohio 110
Idaho 100
Tennessee 100
Indiana 90
Michigan 80
Alabama 80

Highest-Paying States for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

These states pay the most for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers.

State Annual Median Salary
California $142,520
Michigan $125,600
Florida $116,430
New Mexico $114,930
Wyoming $113,870
Nevada $113,140
Utah $110,960
Indiana $110,590
Alaska $109,350
South Dakota $105,170

Skills

Top mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Complex Problem Solving  4.1 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  4.0 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Writing  4.0 / 5
0
5
Judgment and Decision Making  4.0 / 5
0
5
Speaking  4.0 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Engineering and Technology  4.5 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  4.4 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.6 / 5
0
5
Production and Processing  3.6 / 5
0
5
Design  3.6 / 5
0
5
Administration and Management  3.4 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Inductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Category Flexibility  4.0 / 5
0
5
Problem Sensitivity  4.0 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers typically:

  • Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
  • Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  • Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
  • Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
  • Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
  • Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
  • Supervise, train, and evaluate technicians, technologists, survey personnel, engineers, scientists or other mine personnel.
  • Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
  • Design, implement, and monitor the development of mines, facilities, systems, or equipment.
  • Test air to detect toxic gases and recommend measures to remove them, such as installation of ventilation shafts.
  • Implement and coordinate mine safety programs, including the design and maintenance of protective and rescue equipment and safety devices.
  • Devise solutions to problems of land reclamation and water and air pollution, such as methods of storing excavated soil and returning exhausted mine sites to natural states.

Work Activities

  • Working with Computers
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Getting Information
  • Processing Information
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D In-demand technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

  • Geoscience Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Civil Engineering

Careers similar to mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers include:

Also Known As

Coal Mine Inspector, Engineer, Exploration Engineer, Field Engineer, Geological Engineer, Geophysical Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Geotechnical Project Engineer, Metal Mine Inspector, Mine Analyst, Mine Development Engineer, Mine Engineer, Mine Environmental Engineer, Mine Expert, Mine Exploration Engineer.

References

Find Graduate Schools Near You

Our school finder matches students with accredited graduate schools across the U.S. for free.