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Geological & Earth Sciences Major

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Geological & Earth Sciences

1,663 Master's Degrees Annually
734 Doctor's Degrees Annually
#82 in Popularity (Master's)
$101,890 Median Salary

Types of Degrees Geological & Earth Sciences Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many geological and earth sciences graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Master’s Degree 1,663
Doctor’s Degree 734
Graduate Certificate 94

What Geological & Earth Sciences Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, geology majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Geology Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

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  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Skills for Geology Majors

A major in geology prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

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  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Abilities for Geology Majors

Geology majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:

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  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

What Can You Do With a Geological & Earth Sciences Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with geology:

Job Title Job Growth Rate Median Salary
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors 9.9% $90,860
Chemistry Professors 9.9% $79,550
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 14.1% $91,130
Hydrologists 10.4% $79,370
Natural Sciences Managers 9.9% $123,860
Water Resource Specialists 9.9% $123,860

Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Geological & Earth Sciences?

1,663 Master's Degrees Annually
48% Percent Women
17% Percent Racial-Ethnic Minorities*
Roughly 48% of the graduates are women, and 52% are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of geology majors is as follows:

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Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 52
Black or African American 41
Hispanic or Latino 131
White 1,118
International Students 218
Other Races/Ethnicities 103

Geographic Diversity

Geology appeals to people across the globe. About 13.1% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

  • China
  • Saudi Arabia
  • India
  • Nigeria
  • Canada

How Much Do Geological & Earth Sciences Majors Make?

Master’s Degree Starting Salary

The median early-career salary of geological and earth sciences students with a master’s degree is $58,235 a year according to 2019-2020 data from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $48,811 (25th percentile) and $64,543 (75th percentile).

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One thing to note here is that not all of these people may be working in careers related to geology.

Salaries According to BLS

Geology majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $92,360 to $107,800 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Median Salary for a Geological & Earth Sciences Major  ( 92360 to 107800 )
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Median Salary for a High School Graduate  ( 30000 to 57900 )
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Median Salary for a Bachelor's Degree Holder  ( 45600 to 99000 )
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Median Salary for an Advanced Degree Holder  ( 55600 to 125400 )
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Some careers associated with geology require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for geology careers below.

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Education Level Percentage of Workers
Some College Courses 0.1%
Bachelor’s Degree 28.4%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. 5.2%
Master’s Degree 37.1%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. 1.3%
Doctoral Degree 17.0%
Post-Doctoral Training 11.9%

Online Geological & Earth Sciences Programs

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 583 schools offered some type of geological and earth sciences program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level Colleges Offering Programs Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) 0 0
Certificate (1-2 years) 6 1
Certificate (2-4 Years) 0 0
Associate’s Degree 125 3
Bachelor’s Degree 39 6
Post-Baccalaureate 0 0
Master’s Degree 299 5
Post-Master’s 9 0
Doctor’s Degree (Research) 201 1
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) 0 0
Doctor’s Degree (Other) 0 0

Is a Degree in Geological & Earth Sciences Worth It?

The median salary for a geology grad is $101,890 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 155% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,239,800 after 20 years!

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You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to geology.

Major Number of Grads
Chemistry 5,005
Physics 3,727
Materials Sciences 448
Astronomy & Astrophysics 371
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 342
Other Physical Science 191
General Physical Sciences 107
Physics and Astronomy 23

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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